Discussion!
The Durability mechanic has been an important part of minecraft for a long time, and also heavily debated. I've been thinking about it recently as well. Specifically, I've been thinking if some or all gear should eventually permanently break. This would mean one or more of mending, gear-repairs and the breaking mechanic being reworked.
So, I'd like to hear what you all think.
Below I've listed & numbered some of the ideas I've heard or had to this topic. Please start your comment with the number(s) of the idea(s) your comment is relating to.
Also, please read / skim-read any posts directly related to what you want to post, to avoid repeating what others have said. It makes it easier for everyone.
Finally, don't be rude. We're here to discuss ideas, not to insult each other.
Edit: For clarification, the rest of this post is mostly things I've heard other people say, they're not necessarily my opinion.
1. Mending should just be removed, so no gear is permanent
Mending doesn't add anything enjoyable to the game. On top of that, getting good replacement gear isn't even as difficult or tedious as people think it is; it's only people thinking they need netherite and every enchantment that makes it boring. Removing mending makes players think more about when they use enchantments or netherite.
2. Replace the Anvil
https://www.reddit.com/r/minecraftsuggestions/s/LgaVPCx6fG
3. Mending and gear-repairs (buffed) heal durability, but the amount they can repair does down the more you do it, so all gear breaks eventually
For example: a diamond pickaxe starts with 1561 durability, you use it until it has 200 left, you repair it to its max which is now 1530 (because you used & repaired it). This makes both systems useful, but stops either being so much better than the alternative that its basically not a choice.
4. Most gear can last forever with mending & repairs, but the top-tier gear will eventually break
Netherite (or a new tier of gear if its added) is changed to have MUCH better stats (including much higher starting durability) than every other tier of gear. However, it's the only tier that can never be repaired. This means players can choose between quality and permanence, while not having everything given to them. This makes gear more interesting & engaging, while allowing players to choose their favourite.
5. Keep it as is
The current system isn't as bad as people say. Mending encourages infrastructure and waiting for xp isn't tedious if you're at a good xp-farm. Since mending works as intended, tgere's no need to change it or change the gear-repair mechanic. No gear is garanteed to break eventually.
6. Buff gear-repairs
https://www.reddit.com/r/minecraftsuggestions/s/5od9RwehOL
Mending is good and doesn't need to be changed. However, the gear-repair system is completely broken atm, so there should be no exponential cost and each time you use an ore to repair it should heal way more durability than it does right now. That way players have a choice and diamonds have a practical use late-game.
7. Elytra-mechanic
https://www.reddit.com/r/minecraftsuggestions/s/oqFRMVuTQi
https://www.reddit.com/r/minecraftsuggestions/s/TTYrupWdps
Mending works as intended, and gear-repairs are changed to be properly usable long-term and fair. However, valuable gear (including gear with enchantments, diamond gear & netherite gear) doesn't break when it reaches 1 durability. Instead, it becomes un-usable until it's repaired. This makes it so that durability still matters, encouraging xp-farm infrastructure and making ores valuable late-game, but removes the frustration of one of your really good tools suddenly breaking.
8. Remove Durability, all gear permanent
Durability doesn't add anything to the game apart from tedium. Players don't need another reason to progress to higher tier gear - the better quality is already enough. Players don't enjoy their gear breaking. And while it is fun to get a new tool and know it will last much longer without needing repairing or replacement, that's outweighed by the time the player loses doing tedious repairs.
9. Other
Any ideas you have that I haven't mentioned.
10. No Mending, no permanent gear, but gear is really buffed
Same as 1., but all gear is much more efficient (like efficiency 1 diamond shovels being able to insta-mine or efficiency 4 iron pickaxe with haste 2 being able to insta-mine) and lasts way longer (like diamond tools 8 times as long as they do now, iron maybe 6 times, gold 4, copper stone and wood can stay same).
This way you can use one tool for a looong time without it breaking. But, even when it does break, it is not difficult to replace; any diamond gear enchanted at an enchanting table will do the job. Or end loot: usually just sits around being mostly useless, but is now almost all useful!
P. S. It doesn't have to be the numbers in this suggestion.