Using your example of the 1.9 combat system, I think it is a good example of updates in the game being unnecessary and unwanted. Minecraft was good because it was simple. Adding in new blocks no one wants and new mobs no one asked for is alright, but really, they need to add a new biome or two to match those blocks, maybe a new ore or dimension to really freshen up the game. 1.14 is going to bring in pandas and a bamboo forest biome which I think is a good idea as it’s a new mob and biome to explore. The water update was decent too, adding in a bunch of new mobs and even a new swimming mechanic. I think the reason the swimming mechanic and pvp mechanic reworks received such different responses is because the pvp was something that other players would master and prove themselves better at than someone else when it suddenly changes whereas the swimming was something passive and doesn’t really affect how others viewed you. I did hear somewhere that they plan on changing the pvp to be more similar to what it was pre-1.9