are stealth units targeted by flames from afar..?

[Boron]

More games are won without clamhoarding than with by a large degree. Too many people have been influenced by the horror stories of people who have either cheated or play lactic games.

Or feel that their SP tactics can work in MP. Of course, maybe in games of negligable and variant skill levels, such things are much more common than where you can afford to waste your time/resources for a 10 turn return.

yeah sure but imho ( and one of the most experienced / best players who norfleet still is though he cheated shared this opinion too ) you have little other uses for water gems as nonunderwater nation .
you can forge a few boots of quickness , use some sea troll kings courts and 5 water are needed for a jade armor . but this is already almost everything else where it is good to spend water on .
so you gather a big surplus of water gems with many nations and then clam hoarding is the most profitable investition . producing 1-2 clam(s) / turn from midgame on doesn't hurt you but help you greatly . so lategame this is a huge advantage .

i am sure that most skilled players clamhoard and i don't believe you if you say you don't build clams with all your excess water gem income when you can build clams .

i still claim that clamhoarding is almost a "no-brainer" when you can do this with your nation .