Vanilla minecraft is boring and it doesnt feel like they are working on trying to fix it at all.
The unique and stupid terrain that the early versions had, is now pretty much all plains and stuffty hills with nothing in them to make them even remotely interesting. Not saying its impossible to find fun areas but its sure as hell not interesting when 90% of the world is flat and empty.
Theres no real reason to explore besides to find interesting areas where you want to build, or to find nether fortresses, ocean temples, or the stronghold (which mostly generates over itself ruining the dungeon exploration feel anyway), but they all have their own niche uses that you quickly abandon.
They still need to step their game up with building too. Im not asking for them to add chisel and bits to vanilla, but vertical half slabs when?
Seriously though? Llamas?