Minecraft really needs some sort of middle ground between dying having almost no consequence and dying meaning you have to go run out to grab your stuff as fast as possible before it despawns forever. Though, if I ever host a server, KeepInventory is definitely gonna be on.
I think Dragon Quest Builders finds a nice middle ground just by making items seemingly not despawn and giving you at least some of your stuff but making you go back for the rest of it.
@NovaSquirrel There's a mod my friend used last time I played on a server that spawns a tombstone that sucks in all your items.
This way the items don't despawn, and if you're more into a PVP environment? Your attacker can still take your items.
@NinTheFolf Yeah that really sounds like the most sensible way to do it. You still have to go back for it but you don't lose it forever. Does that handle lava too?
@NovaSquirrel
Yeah, from what I remember it does!