I think you guys are speaking completely out of emotions here.
They're removing a feature to allow a new feature to exist. Once the dust has settled from this, there will be replacements for terrain.
And I don't know if you realize this, but both ROBLOX and Minecraft are hundreds of times more popular than Blockland. Every Walmart I go to has ROBLOX timecards in the back with the electronics next to stuff like Farmville and Runescape. ROBLOX has succeeded in being marketed. Minecraft had it's 1,000,000th purchase months ago. Blockland's last ID was something in the late 30,000s.
You shouldn't fear this kind of change. You shouldn't try and shy away from anything that might resemble another game.
Blockland's strong suite over ROBLOX is that it looks better, and user created content (can be) better, in terms of usability, versatility, and design. Even something like ZAPT just completely Annoying Oranges ROBLOX' zombie mod. Our physics engine and client-side prediction system makes their rocket launchers and weapons a joke.
Blockland's strong suite over Minecraft is that Blockland has its emphasis on design rather than survival. Minecraft in free mode is the equal of Blockland with only 4x4 cubes and about 20 different colors.
Badspot is ambitious. He knows he has a game that's better than ROBLOX and fills a niche in the block-building spectrum Minecraft never will. Don't be surprised if you see more changes that revolve around building. Don't be surprised when the forums get a make-over, and in suite of a more aggressive advertising campaign Badspot begins to ban more often, employing more moderators to clean up behavior.
These shaders are just the foreshadowing of things to come. Watch, it's about to get really different in here.
