If what Notch says is true, and the new update really is turning all existing torches into lanterns, then I think stockpiling them would be a good idea. Think large rooms filled with lanterns.
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On another note, I'm going to finally put in my two cents here; if you make a stockpile room in expectations of getting loadsa lanterns, then you're not playing the game. You're exploiting it. Notch is turning torches to lanterns out of kindness.
Sure, feel free to stockpile them. My suggestion is to just keep playing the game as you normally would. Whatever happens happens.
While I won't be exploiting this myself, I don't think it's fair to judge somebody for the way they play the game as long as they are getting what they want to get out of it. I think this goes doubly for a sandbox style game like Minecraft. Accept it or not, but some gamers get more fun out of finding ways to exploit the game than by playing "by the book." I personally know gamers who play games just for the sole purpose of exploiting them. If you think about it, it's possible to feel a sense of victory because you discovered an alternate way of doing things to most people even if most do consider it cheating. If you don't like they way these people play the game, simply don't play like them.
MINECRAFT FACTS: BIG LIST OF WHAT NOTCH HAS ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT THE PLANNED FEATURES OF MINECRAFT
On another note, I'm going to finally put in my two cents here; if you make a stockpile room in expectations of getting loadsa lanterns, then you're not playing the game. You're exploiting it. Notch is turning torches to lanterns out of kindness.
Sure, feel free to stockpile them. My suggestion is to just keep playing the game as you normally would. Whatever happens happens.
PLEASE ALSO SUPPORT:
Sabata & Grey Acumen's "New Nether"
Grey Acumen's Minecraft 2.0 Suggestion Series