I've been following the progress of the thread started by Celeron 55 for the default textures for Minetest and I can't avoid having the feeling that most people are putting their two cents into the pot with the feeling that whatever is chosen now it will be irreversible and definitive.
Because of that and because Celeron 55 has clearly stated that any discussion related to such theme should be done on a separate thread or threads, I decided to start this debate here, on somewhat "neutral" grounds.
I'll start by leaving here my (personal) opinion and hope others will follow, in the community spirit Minetest has the luck to have behind it, supporting and always trying to improve it.
I came to Minetest following the "hype" of Minecraft and after playing the later a few times, through the account of a friend.
Minetest, with its almost similar graphics gave me a familiar feeling and welcomed me in easily and quite peacefully. On the bottom line, besides lacking features, I couldn't really tell apart both games; visually, the differences were very subtle for most blocks and when this is not the case, textures tend to be less polished. Yet, none of this kept me away from the game. Give me more, I say.
Now, Minetest is on the verge to acquire a new face. Some people have voted - me included - to keep the standard textures as are now. Some have voted towards a texture pack that will make Minetest resemble even more with Minecraft. Others have appointed Cisoun's texture pack and the Adventure Pack Texture, from kddekadenz, is also in the race.
I admit I'm little knowledgeable regarding texture packs; I haven't installed player-made content and I'm happy with it. I voted for the standard texture pack exactly because its a very neutral texture, almost generic, flawed, yes, but easy to grow accustomed to. It does not have a particular style to it and does not hint the game to a specific motto.
For this, supporting a texture pack that will further bring Minetest towards Minecraft makes no logic nor sense to me. Minetest is not Minecraft! Let it be and cut it loose, please. Let's focus on what Minetest is and not on what Minetest is not.
Following this same line of thought, its important to support a texture pack that will help differentiate and give Minecraft its unique identity. Yet, this must be done with caution. Some texture packs have an overly excessive cartoon-ish style or excessively "pretty" look that give the game a childish look; on the other hand, opting for a more noir, harder, look may drive away players that will se the game as too "hard-core".
My final statement and conclusion: instead of proposing a completely "new" standard texture pack, why not improve and expand the already existing with the work many people have already don, by merge several texture packs into a single one, using the best each individual pack has to offer.
Cisoun's improved basic texture pack is a good starting point, as it is kddekadenz Adventure Pack. Both have solid, good looking work put in to it and are not incredibly disruptive with the generic feel and look the game presently has.
These solely my personal opinion and thoughts.
(I seem to be having a weird behaviour from the forum, as my posts get cut in half when I get the bot control screen. Edit was done to paste the full content of my message.)