You have got to be kidding! I thought "Nittel Nacht" was a bad joke! They seriously mevatel torah for Nittel Nacht, beshita?! I am absolutely speechless.

Why don't they take advantage of Nittel Nacht to spend time with their families, instead of checkers with their chavrusas?

Certainly a waste of time. It could have been spent in lectures about 'secular' things like learning a talent like carpentry, public speaking, diring safety, etc...
Josh