Design decisions
Why a change was made, what else was considered, and what it cost. Published so players and contributors can argue with the reasoning, not just the result.
Why death keeps tools but removes bonus hearts
Dropping everything punishes the hours you spent enchanting rather than the mistake you made. keepInventory punishes nothing. Bonus hearts are a penalty that is real, renewable and measurable.
deathmultiplayer
Why rockets no longer power elytra
Rocket-powered flight removes route planning, terrain and every competing transportation system at once. Campfire flight puts the cost back on the ground, where you can build against it.
elytraexplorationtransportation
Why enchanting was rebuilt
Random enchanting rewarded patience rather than planning, and four statistics enchantments crowded out everything interesting. The Catalogue and the smithing templates split the system in two.
enchantingequipment