The system can be balancing, but right now I dont think it is. Since we started implementing ways to generate currency (before credits, there were diamonds from voting, and before that, gold from donations), the prices of materials and services have skyrocketed. Wood is no longer 2g/stack, its 4-6, for example. Clearly many players do not value their cash as much as they used to. I also suspect there are nowhere near as many players actually mining for their gold/diamond as there used to be, because they do not need to anymore. HOWEVER, the voting system is our main system of advertising, and brings us many new players which keep the server interesting and without them, the server may not exist at all. If not for the rewards, many players would not be voting, and we wouldnt be as high on the lists as we are now. And that really matters, because most people who use the toplists probably click on the topmost one that sounds interesting to them, and do not even look at the others. I feel we are of such a size now, that the only servers that should be beating us are the ones that cheat their votes. Also, I am also of the opinion that limiting the amount and type of blocks all players can use only hurts the quality of construction server-wide. If most players can afford the expensive blocks to enhance their buildings, then the quality will be improved. IF all they can afford is planks and cobble, then thats what they will build with. However, I prefer the fine line an economy provides: Everything is still legit, because it needed to be bought, instead of everything being made with spawned blocks. Seeing buildings everywhere made with diamond and lapis blocks in a creative server just cheapens the experience.

Mossy and cracked is actually very easy to get... Pumpkin seeds however, are impossible right now.

Lately, Ive been playing single player on a self-imposed "hardcore mode", with he difficulty on hard. Just like the same mode of Diablo II, when I die, I delete the save file. It adds some actual gravity to survival.

I won third place! 64 diamonds. I actually nearly got to the end twice, and was killed. Would have gotten first place, but oh well! There is a repeatable method to getting through the maze. However, it takes 30 minutes.

Lol, I was working on an ATS today. Long story short, they aren't supposed to do that. They are supposed to last for decades, and come on in a moments notice, regardless of conditions. Somebody screwed up the install.