no monetisation

Not necessarily. Many servers accept optional donations for hosting and keep the game untouched. Once money buys anything in-game, especially advantages in survival, PvP, claims, economy, or access, most players consider that monetisation.

Check for a store link and for perks tied to payment: extra sethomes, larger claim limits, /fly in survival, queue priority, repair commands, paid spawners, paid currency, kits, or crates. The best sign is a clear public statement that paid advantages are not offered and an explanation of how costs are covered.

They can be, if they stay purely visual and do not affect combat clarity or economy. The line gets crossed when cosmetics become paid status systems, create pressure to buy, or impact visibility and readability in fights.

Yes, but they are usually earned roles or community titles, not sold packages. Playtime ranks, event titles, and trust-based roles can fit if they do not change competition or speed up progression.

It removes the feeling that you are competing with a payment system. Survival progression and trading stay grounded in actual gathering and cooperation, and PvP stays about preparation, mechanics, and teamwork rather than paid kits or shortcuts.