tl;dr
VERDICT: buying an estate with hovel in hand early in the game when you have nothing better to buy is a weak move that is occasionally correct, is usually incorrect, but very rarely matters either way, much like buying an estate with an extra buy late, but not very late, in the game.
In my opinion, you generally SHOULD be trashing that Hovel for an Estate if you have $2 and nothing better to spend it on. Essentially, its 1VP gained for no slowdown of the deck now, versus a one-card deck trimming that comes in the mid to late game. In the mid to late game, the effect of trashing is far less beneficial than in the early game.In a game that is likely to be decided on the province split, I agree with you.
3 is the appropriate number to look at here, not 6. You could for instance buy one Caravan to get those three extra +Cards without worrying about hitting the Rats+trasher combo. You'll probably get them sooner and with a lot less hassle. Also the cards you draw will be higher quality because none of them will be Rats (which you might not even get to play, if your trasher is a terminal).There's certainly quite a few ifs. Rats are only a good card if the table is right, but it is not the only card with that quality. I think Junk Dealer might be such a table. Then again, it may not be fast enough. It is, however, a mistake to say the cards you draw will be better quality because they wont be rats. Apart from the single rat you bought, all the rats presumably replaced poorer cards (shelters, estates, unwanted coppers)
So, you think +1 Card is worth it?
Normally, getting a 5 is already a strong opening, especially with something like Witch on the board. Usually, you don't want to buy anything with your $2. But with Shelters, you can buy an Estate to trash your Hovel and gain a 1vp lead without slowing your deck! In games with heavy cursing, that point is often worth a lot because the game will end on piles.
i think i get it... does it mean that when there is written "while THIS is in play," it means the EXACT card and not just any Haggler?Yes, 'this' always refers to a specific instance of a card, not the card type. If a card refers to the card type, it refers to the card name.
