To save time, I'll post just about every comment you will get:

Raargh, my melon farm *Rage*. Spent so much money on it, it's not fair! You can't change market!! *Rage* So... angry...

Not that I agree with that, but there you go.

don't trivialize it. money spent and time invested are serious things to minecraft players. (herpderp serious gamer. hush. i dont want to hear it.)

but thats not where the issue lies, and i bet ill be ridiculed enough by people kissing up to mods for trusted status. but here goes anyway:

Im a newish player.. been here for about two-three weeks. its taken me A LOT to buy the few 11x11 stones i have. and thats just so my base camp doesnt get griefed, and so 1 mob spawner i found doesnt get taken before i can afford to build on it.

what about the time ive spent and diamond pickaxes wasted to clear an underground area for a farm? even then ive only scavenged enough resources for 1 level.. IF it wasnt found by griefers. But, I hoped to build on that and eventually have something that would generate a solid income.

now what are my options? Ive been told to spend "10minutes mining iron" and "work up form there". Im sorry, forgive my naiveté, but 50$ a ingot? (-charcoal used to create it..) 1100 ingots for the diamond ps? Ive spent a solid week trying to clear a 41x41x22 area.. ive found ~4stacks of iron...  how is this is a viable source of income?

Some mentioned to open a shop, and if it gets griefed, call a mod to fix it. thats exactly how i want to play. instead of building awesome things, i can sit around spamming for people to visit my shop. just to sell a few stacks of sand or cobble for a couple hundred $. i have to worry about it getting griefed, and if it does, hope i get a mod who is sympathetic and  not having a bad day "you should have protected it with a ps stone" (yes actual quote)

You guys are taking away pivotal items in your player based economy because "some members are getting too rich". But by doing this you hurt any player just trying to get on their feet... trying to build a presence on the server, to make a name for themselves.

but no. instead i i have to fight tooth and nail for small protection stones so i dont get griefed every day. Abandon a large project because now it means nothing. deal with other players building cities next to me just because they want to annoy someone... oh and there isnt any protection so too bad.

not that this post is going to make a difference. im the minority. im just another new player who is poor. haha sucks for me. why listen to me when you have (some) Trusteds circlejerking over themselves, and kissing up to mods.

But what are my options? deal with it, or go play somewhere else. i dont know which yet.