I seriously used to remember this time. I joined minehut in 2019 and tried so many unique servers and had a blast. I even learned skript because I was so inspired by a particular server that shut down. Back then, punishments were broadcasted and chat was not muted 20% of the time. Back then, chat was not censored as much as the dystopian world of 1984. The /ad command did not exist because it was not needed. My only problem with the command is that it is based on ranks which is dumb. Overall, having a command enforce a rule automatically makes a lot of sense. (Old advertisement rule was 3-5 minutes) Back then, minehut also did not use player servers as advertising machines either.
I disagree with your view on Unleashed though. Despite how much I hate the new website design Unleashed is good because:
Market is optional. If you do not like the market, release content freely to compete directly with it.
Custom plugins is going to change how we make servers. For the better obviously!
Server networks, subusers, and a live console all make minehut a significantly more capable host.
I am with you in the fight against p2w and gens but I ultimately think that people just like grindy servers that they can waste their time in. Ultimately playing minecraft servers is just one way we can choose to waste the limited time we have on Earth. The masses just choose gens for some reason.
Sincerely Checkmate128, Owner of unique and non-p2w servers and ally in this fight