Suggestions

[craigpd]

"people would make ugly stuff" - its a build server, the whole point is building, if people make ugly things, thats their problem (unless they make it too near someone else's things)

Not sure how this would prevent us giving people creative. People build for fun, if they make something that looks 'ugly', then fine, as long as they had fun doing it.

"but why do you need creative? You can get the blocks from spawn and you have the /mc command" - /mc is a buggy rubbish command that hardly works, the spawn shop only sells somethings (no diamonds/gold/emerald) and IF THEY HAD ACTUALLY FINISHED BUILDING IT.

Emerald, diamond and gold were abused to all hell and people would grief each other just to get some because they're too lazy to go to spawn and get a few stacks. They caused too many issues and were just targets for grief in general. That and them being rare to find anyway sort of adds some sense of achievement while playing.
On the matter of spawn not being finished. One of our mega-builders (Diggitydan) joined the army and has been unable to play because of this. Those who did try and get a spawn together are busy with school/college/work. So we do what we can when we can.

"donate!" - This one really makes me annoyed. You expect me to spend me own money on this server, a server that is just neglected by its staff? If I was that desperate to build I would simply do it in single player.

Would you rather we make people donate for admin powers?..Or even charge people $30 a month for creative powers?. Here $20 gets you a near unlimited time in creative (About 9 months if I remember right, unless something changed)
As for being neglected, again, school/work/college. It's hard to be on when you things you need to do.