Why parties aren't as fun as they could be:

I pretty much only throw wedding parties, and I enjoy them. I don't encounter some of your annoyances because I always throw them at a wedding venue where drinking, eating and dancing are pretty much all there is to do, rather than a house with a tv and computer and all that stuff. I actually like the chatting, because usually my weddings are like family reunions so I move around getting pictures of the family hanging out with each other. If I go to the arch pretty much right away (before the bartender starts serving), a lot of the guests will usually come watch, even if they don't sit.

But yeah I almost never throw house parties. And the dinner parties are especially a pain. Though maybe if you have parenthood and someone sets the table first that might help? It would be nice if the AI worked like clubs and steered them towards the appropriate party activities.