Originally Posted by
Kengon
The only way people really get invested in a server is if their stuff has permanence. Otherwise all the time people (would) invest in the server is completely wasted.
In Factions, your shit gets destroyed and stolen every day.
In vanilla, shit gets trolled and broken.
The only time I've been active on MC (for about 18 months) was in a vanilla/build, with nothing much else other than warp points and block/chest protection. That way you get to make cool shit, people get to see it and build with you, and it doesn't just get destroyed instantly.
I'd play that, too. A lot.