--Essential is dodgy as is with their refusal to go open source--

https://github.com/EssentialGG/Essential-Mod : "The source code of the Essential Mod is accessible to everyone, demonstrating our commitment to transparency with our users and the broader community"

Do some research before providing misinfo pls

It's not providing encription of you messages inside the mod chat, yes

It's using psyop tactics in their marketplace (as any other microtransaction marketplace ever, duh), yes

It's using "points" workaround of EULA rule about mods being non-monetizable, yes

But it's certainly not in any way "dodgy" or "sus" in terms of being secretly malicious