I believe that the last year for MOE Sticks was 2003, and they were probably one of the chief reasons FIRST banned noisemakers starting in 2004. Imagine 20 or 30 people clapping them at the same time! The only thing louder was their team's shirts.
In 2004 noisemakers were banned, as seen at the NJ regional that year:
Call me sentimental (or maybe deaf), but I kinda miss the little clappers.
Maybe Mr MOE can recall the reason for the MOE-green caution striping - maybe it was to caution against getting one''s fingers clapped, or that hearing protection was needed? Thay might explain why MOE has often handed out earplugs at regionals...