The problem with vanilla servers is that we already have two big servers, so it's hard to compete with them, and a server focused on PK, loses the fun very quickly, I believe a server that was not focused only on PK and was not "hard" for being "strong" would be a better approach, but the problem is that some players today are already badly accustomed and want everything at hand, getting to the point of complaining about "Donate".
Some admins use donate as a way to keep the server online (of course there are those who just want to steal your money), because if you put effort and time into something that will not bring you a return (be it financial or emotional) it's just time thrown away, and at the end no matter what style of server you will do, be it pk, be it farm, be it vanilla, will always have someone to complain, because you can't please everyone, but if you please some, stay with them , do the maintenance thinking about who wants the best to the server.