This time, at least I was able to submit a buy offer. The NXT that I would have used in the buy was deducted from my balance for about 2 minutes (most likely the time until the next block was forged), but then it reappeared - so my offer didn't go through, but it seems like this time some people were able to buy small to medium chunks. It felt a bit more like I had expected it.
I know the whale did not participate (at least, that was what she announced before), but she most likely will participate early tomorrow to get the 5 million she wants. So perhaps tomorrow afternoon the next chance emerges.