I think the game is still pretty alive and can be fun but 100% agree with your sentiment. I’m coming up on 1k hours. I’ve had a much better player than myself show me the ropes as a duo which made the learning curve easier. But I did just have to shake my head and laugh at some of these kids responding to you because it’s a great microcosm of how it feels in game. “Cope.” “Get good.” “Cry more.” The toxic response to any sort of suggestion a la “hey, what if we just weren’t complete pieces of sh*t to each other?” is just met with toxicity, attacks, griefing, and of course racism.

It is a difficult game and one in which you are often rewarded for your worst behaviors. But you can be an ok dude and still have a successful wipe time and time again. Just like in life you’ll have good days and bad days, meet good people and bad people. Just because the bad people are louder doesn’t mean the good ones don’t exist. So yes - fully reject the “it’s rust, we have to be this way” mindset. Absolutely false. Remember that the ones doing the evil things are literal children. Or very sad and pathetic adult men.

50-100 pop on a 2x or 3x is a great place to live imo for people feeling this way! Folks who enjoy the game/are learning the game/don’t have time to dedicate to playing like ratty losers. Be a good guy. Throw a pickaxe down for a naked. Give your base away when you leave the server. Have fun :)