Well, at least for me, PEQ and many 1x servers are kind of a turn off because if I wanted to play legit EQ, I'd go play legit EQ. There are many things incomplete with the source (I play a bard typically, do I need to say more?) so investing a lot of time seems meaningless. I think PEQ is a great project because it creates an awesome foundation for those who want to make a branch off the original-based design, and for those who want to try to experience EQ for non-monthly fees can do so.
but if you ask me, original EQ wasn't that greatly designed. It was expansive, interesting, and big.. But it was never greatly designed. If I found a server where someone took the reigns and recreated a new realm of Everquest, taking the original 'old' feel and melding a new storyline and progression with their own rendition of it, not just making it easier for players, or trying to recreate something we all already know where everything spawns and exact progression for ideal leveling etc etc, but instead making it unique, a new design, I would have fun. Sadly I can't find a server that does this without them thinking of making mudflation all over. Bigger, better stats != more powerful if you beef up mobs too. All you do is give a false sense of improvement, and screw up balance even more than it already is. :/
But if they did things to challenge players, not by boring them to death with a grind fest, but having complex and interesting puzzles to solve, bosses that you will guarentee wipe to not because it hits ridiculously hard, but has a complex order of coordination in order to pull it off, stuff like that.. is what I enjoy. A crafting system that's hidden away for people to unveil, new quests that aren't just task based but actually will be left unsolved for a while...
I love to explore, discover, and learn about new things. New spells, new visions are welcomed to me, because like I said, if I wanted to play typical yet another EQ, I'd jump on live or PEQ. :/
Hell, I'm still waiting for someone to make the begging skill worth something. Or recreation of tradeskills. The best I can do is make play around servers and see what I can expand in the source just for fun. :/
@ the teleports and such, after Planes of Power this became common place with PoK, so to me servers that have teleporters or buffbots I just think they're doing what PoP was trying to do anyways, hold people's hands. I absolutely hate PoK and frankly I think EQ ended around Velious, the vision becoming some oddity of mudflation and "how can we make people's life easier? How about a guild hall you hand gems to and set where it portals to?"
But at the same time, the servers like Project 1999 that are recreating the original feel don't really attract me. It's a recreation of an idea that is ~10 years old, it will be full of content everyone already knows, so there is nothing to really gain except to take a ride down memory lane. Would much rather experience something new. :/
The Hidden Forest I enjoyed because the admins weren't afraid to aggressively try to change things. They took what has been established and twisted and turned it into something else. There's areas I don't neccessarilly agree with on their philosophies, but at least they're doing something different.
Stormhaven I haven't played much, but I have enjoyed the bit I've played it. It's because they are taking EQ to a new route. For good or worse, at least it's new.
EZ 4x server I haven't played too seriously, it was a bit too comical for me in the progression and general gearing.
Though of those 3 servers, my biggest concern is how will end game content shape up? It's one thing to make something new, it's another to keep it interesting at end game (where you end up and spend most of your time)..
Instead of having a staff of web designers, programmers, and in game help, I'd love to see more staff dedicated to creating a balanced server system. A server that parses each class and does balancing based on test results, formulas, and curves things in a custom fashion according to their findings. Would love that.