I found this Minecraft network that is pretty new and still in early launch. It is called NovaCraft Network and it focuses on fair progression and actually listening to players. It does not feel pay to win and it does not rely on weird gimmicks.

The main gamemode right now is Skyblock. It has balanced progression and a player driven economy. It seems made for both casual players who just want to chill and also for competitive players who like to grind and race ahead.

There is also BedWars with 2v2 and 4v4 maps so it is good for small groups and friends who want quick pvp games. For people who like classic Minecraft there is a Survival world on hard difficulty with normal gameplay and nothing super crazy added on top.

The owners say they focus on fair progression active development and community feedback that actually matters. They are asking for players who want to help shape the server from the ground up so it feels like they really want ideas and suggestions.

Right now the server runs on Java 1.21.x and older versions are supported too. They also say Skyblock is just the beginning and that Lifesteal and Factions are planned for the future as the network grows.