Take 2, bottom of the ninth, pressure's on, I'll give this a shot!
Sorry to hear you're disappointed with the perks structure eaten, like you mentioned, you donated before so you're familiar with the process and you've also been here for a while so you know how the server works too.
Like anyone, you're more than welcome to have your say on things and hold an opinion so rather than try and beat you into a different way of thinking, I figured I'd try and give you some background info and rationalisations on the perk structure and the reasons it was implemented so you can make your own "final decisions" on it. Be forewarned, I'm prone to ramble, so if you want any clarifications or further info drop a reply or demand a tl;dr version.
As you know, the previous donation method basically consisted of 100% voluntary payments in exchange for caps (and later creative access) and a dark green name. Unfortunately, as jeff mentioned, hosting a server that doesn't fall over every day is a costly and neverending expense. At around this time, community members were also pitching some new features (mob disguising, fly mode, extra kits etc.) so the reasoning was that these could be incorporated to offer some extra benefits (on top of caps) for donations.
Now the main proviso with all of these donation options was that it only be used to enhance what users already had accessed to (for example, things like standard amounts of /pws remained free, ditto lwc protection etc.). I can also assure you that things like godmode were brought in solely for the "non competitive" worlds and would never be introduced in PvP worlds on a "pay to win" basis. In fact, the primary reasoning behind godmode as a perk was to facilitate easier mining to gather resources for the build world (basically the same as what you could achieve on your regular plot).
In terms of your query about flying, this was implemented on a monthly basis so that we always have the option to remove it if required whilst creative world is permanently separated from all aspects of build (apart from /shop there is no way to spawn items in build, nor is there any way to access creative mode whilst /fly itself tends to lend itself more to expediting planning and travelling).
To cut a long story short, these donations will always be optional "bonuses" and it will always be possible to have a standard, build world experience without spending a penny.
As above, if I've missed anything at all or you're still concerned about stuff just drop in a reply and we'll do what we can. Apologies to Jeff too, I feel like I've ripped off a lot of what he managed to put far more concisely than I could.
but I'm not here to have a laugh, I came for answers. And Jeff I'm going to have to decline your offer. I will not be gracing the server with a completed helicarrier, not if this is how shit gets sorted now.
