Server costs, themselves, actually cost no more than a common hobby, or a drinking habit. Anyone can afford one. It is the advertising costs that cost much, much more, which is sad when you consider what these server list sites actually DO for the money. They set up a website, and then sat back and watched the money roll in.
It is EASY to be op or to get diamonds on a minecraft server. Just make one, or find a creative server. It's not like they are worth anything at all.
It is NOT easy to be op or to get diamonds on a GOOD minecraft server (in my opinion).
I see this more and more too. I join a "survival" server, and I start out with stacks of diamond blocks. How is that survival? That's luxury. I'd love to have diamond blocks in real life, and I'm not even "surviving". I live a fairly fruitful life. Warping and teleporting abilities are not survival. I cannot think of one instance where I was stranded in the wilderness, and couldn't find food, so I simply teleported away like a fairy.
This is another ill-fated practice to get votes/players; catering to the player. A stack of spawned diamonds is not a heart-felt gift. I can /give player diamond 42342 all day long. No sweat. It's not something that one should be thankful for. It's an insult. I can dig out my own diamonds. I don't need the game's economy and resources to be based on random admin mood changes, or favortism.
