I have a bunch of ideas on how to make the Nether more... well, enjoyable. Any other ideas would be appreciated!
+Netherroot Trees: These trees would be generated on, and grow only on, Soul Sand. No part of the tree, or anything crafted from it, is flammable. Therefore, nothing from this tree can be used as furnace fuel.
+Netherroot Log: The log block of the Netherroot tree. It can only be mined with a Stone or better axe. It can be crafted into planks. It is a burnt black color, with red rips in the bark, similar to Birch wood.
+Netherroot Leaves: The Leaf block of the Netherroot Tree. It can only be mined for itself with Darkshears. Otherwise, it drops Netherroot Saplings. It is blood red and emits a faint glow, similar to that of Glowing Redstone Ore. It decays if not near a wood block (any wood will do, likewise Netherroot Logs will prevent normal Leaves from decaying).
+Netherroot Sapling: The sapling of the Netherroot Tree. It is a black and red recoloring of the existing Birch sapling. It can only be planted in Soul Sand. It grows in any light level, but grows faster if the light is lower. The Sapling glows like a Redstone Torch when placed.
+Netherroot Planks: Planks made from Netherroot Logs. They are a singed gray color. They are more durable than regular Wood Planks. They are used in crafting.
+Netherroot Stick: Sticks crafted from Netherroot Planks. They are used in crafting. They are a singed gray color, like the planks.
+Netherboat: A boat crafted from Netherroot Planks. It is more durable and collision-resistant than a regular boat. It can also traverse Lava.
+Netherroot Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Netherroot Planks. They have the strength and durability of Wooden tools, plus a few bonuses. There are no Hoes in Nether-origin toolsets (no pun intended.)
-Pickaxe: Breaks Nether blocks related to it faster.
-Axe: Can mine Netherroot Logs as if it were a Stone Axe.
-Shovel: Breaks Soulsand really fast
-Sword: Deals higher damage to any monster that drops Gunpowder
+Netherrack Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Netherrack. They have the strength and durability of Stone tools, plus a few bonuses.
-Pickaxe: If a Netherrack block mined with this is currently burning, it will drop Fire instead of itself. This provides a legit way to craft Chain Armor.
-Axe: Overworld wood mined with this Axe has a 10% chance of dropping Charcoal instead of itself.
-Shovel: Sand mined with this shovel has a 10% chance of dropping Glass instead of itself.
-Sword: A monster attacked with this sword has a 5% chance of being set on fire. (This does not work underwater.)
+Darksteel Ore: The first ever Nether Ore! It resembles a block of Netherrack with silver Ore Marks in it. It can be mined with a Stone or better Pickaxe and must be smelted into Darksteel Ingots.
+Darksteel Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Darksteel Ingots. They have the strength and durability of Iron, plus a few bonuses.
-Pickaxe: A smeltable related block mined with this pickaxe has a 15% chance of dropping its smelted form (I.E. stone drops stone instead of cobblestone, and ores drop Ingots)
-Axe: The durability of this axe does not decrease when it mines Netherroot Planks. Great for house touch-ups.
-Shovel: Any Gravel mined with this shovel always drops Flint.
-Sword: Can defuse primed Creepers.
UPDATE 1
+Darkshears: Shears made from Darksteel Ingots. They can mine Netherroot Leaves for themselves. (Ed. note: I mentioned these in an earlier entry and forgot to include them. Sorry for any confusion.)
+Netherflow: A glowing yellow fluid with the viscosity of water. It can be collected in any bucket. You can swim in it. It can be generated in pools and in falls. Netherflow and Lava are immiscible; they will flow on top of each other without reacting.
+Soul Sapphire Ore: Resembling a block of Netherrack with deep blue Ore Marks on it, the Soul Sapphire Ore is one of the rarest ores in the Nether. It can be mined with an Iron or better pickaxe. It drops a single Soul Sapphire Gem.
+Soul Sapphire Gem: A deep blue gem that uses a recolored Diamond icon. It is used in crafting.
+Soul Sapphire Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Soul Sapphire Gems. They have the strength and durability of Diamond, plus a few bonuses.
-Pickaxe: Can mine Netherrack and Stone without losing durability, because everyone hates wasting pickaxes on Stone.
-Axe: This Axe's durability is not decreased when it breaks Leaves. This prevents constant switching in the Action Bar.
-Shovel: Grass blocks mined with this shovel drop Grass instead of Dirt. Finally!
-Sword: This sword can mine Ice for collection.
UPDATE 2
Hell Gel: A green slimy block. It is placed like a solid, but you can swim in it like water! It can be mined with anything. Mine it with a shovel, and it will drop 4 Slimeballs instead of itself. It generates in clumps in the Nether.
Hellfire Furnace: A furnace crafted with Netherrack. It smelts Nether ores faster than the regular furnace, but smelts Overworld ores slower. It can be fueled in the same manner as Overworld Furnaces.
Crafting Table: The Crafting Table can now be crafted with Netherroot Planks. It looks exactly the same, but the recipe yields 2 Tables.
Dragons: Notch plans to add Dragons to the game. They should spawn more in the Nether than in the Overworld. It drops Dragon Heartstring.
Phoenix: A new mob designed specifically for the Nether. It is a flying mob that attacks directly. If hit by it, you stand a chance of being set on fire. It drops Red Feathers.
Dragon Heartstring: An orange String dropped by Dragons. It is used for crafting.
Red Feather: A crimson feather dropped by Phoenixes. It is used for crafting.
Dragon Bow: A bow crafted with Dragon Heartstring and Netherroot Sticks. It fires Flaming Arrows.
Flaming Arrow: An arrow crafted with a Red Feather, a Netherroot Stick, and a Fire. It is used as ammo for the Dragon Bow. It can set Mobs on fire if it hits. The recipe yields 4 each.
Hellthorn: A red cactus that grows in the Nether. It can be found growing on Gravel. It can be mined for itself. It deals damage to players and Mobs that touch it, and may also set them on fire.
Netherrod: A fishing pole crafted with Netherroot Sticks and Dragon Heartstring. It won't catch anything in water. If used on Lava, you may catch a Cooked Fish.
All of that is perfect. Even the boat, its a good idea. Only it would be Mojang's job to make boats less crappy and not fly around when you get out of them.
+Netherroot Trees: These trees would be generated on, and grow only on, Soul Sand. No part of the tree, or anything crafted from it, is flammable. Therefore, nothing from this tree can be used as furnace fuel.
+Netherroot Log: The log block of the Netherroot tree. It can only be mined with a Stone or better axe. It can be crafted into planks. It is a burnt black color, with red rips in the bark, similar to Birch wood.
+Netherroot Leaves: The Leaf block of the Netherroot Tree. It can only be mined for itself with Darkshears. Otherwise, it drops Netherroot Saplings. It is blood red and emits a faint glow, similar to that of Glowing Redstone Ore. It decays if not near a wood block (any wood will do, likewise Netherroot Logs will prevent normal Leaves from decaying).
+Netherroot Sapling: The sapling of the Netherroot Tree. It is a black and red recoloring of the existing Birch sapling. It can only be planted in Soul Sand. It grows in any light level, but grows faster if the light is lower. The Sapling glows like a Redstone Torch when placed.
+Netherroot Planks: Planks made from Netherroot Logs. They are a singed gray color. They are more durable than regular Wood Planks. They are used in crafting.
+Netherroot Stick: Sticks crafted from Netherroot Planks. They are used in crafting. They are a singed gray color, like the planks.
+Netherboat: A boat crafted from Netherroot Planks. It is more durable and collision-resistant than a regular boat. It can also traverse Lava.
+Netherroot Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Netherroot Planks. They have the strength and durability of Wooden tools, plus a few bonuses. There are no Hoes in Nether-origin toolsets (no pun intended.)
-Pickaxe: Breaks Nether blocks related to it faster.
-Axe: Can mine Netherroot Logs as if it were a Stone Axe.
-Shovel: Breaks Soulsand really fast
-Sword: Deals higher damage to any monster that drops Gunpowder
+Netherrack Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Netherrack. They have the strength and durability of Stone tools, plus a few bonuses.
-Pickaxe: If a Netherrack block mined with this is currently burning, it will drop Fire instead of itself. This provides a legit way to craft Chain Armor.
-Axe: Overworld wood mined with this Axe has a 10% chance of dropping Charcoal instead of itself.
-Shovel: Sand mined with this shovel has a 10% chance of dropping Glass instead of itself.
-Sword: A monster attacked with this sword has a 5% chance of being set on fire. (This does not work underwater.)
+Darksteel Ore: The first ever Nether Ore! It resembles a block of Netherrack with silver Ore Marks in it. It can be mined with a Stone or better Pickaxe and must be smelted into Darksteel Ingots.
+Darksteel Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Darksteel Ingots. They have the strength and durability of Iron, plus a few bonuses.
-Pickaxe: A smeltable related block mined with this pickaxe has a 15% chance of dropping its smelted form (I.E. stone drops stone instead of cobblestone, and ores drop Ingots)
-Axe: The durability of this axe does not decrease when it mines Netherroot Planks. Great for house touch-ups.
-Shovel: Any Gravel mined with this shovel always drops Flint.
-Sword: Can defuse primed Creepers.
UPDATE 1
+Darkshears: Shears made from Darksteel Ingots. They can mine Netherroot Leaves for themselves. (Ed. note: I mentioned these in an earlier entry and forgot to include them. Sorry for any confusion.)
+Netherflow: A glowing yellow fluid with the viscosity of water. It can be collected in any bucket. You can swim in it. It can be generated in pools and in falls. Netherflow and Lava are immiscible; they will flow on top of each other without reacting.
+Soul Sapphire Ore: Resembling a block of Netherrack with deep blue Ore Marks on it, the Soul Sapphire Ore is one of the rarest ores in the Nether. It can be mined with an Iron or better pickaxe. It drops a single Soul Sapphire Gem.
+Soul Sapphire Gem: A deep blue gem that uses a recolored Diamond icon. It is used in crafting.
+Soul Sapphire Toolset: Tools crafted from Netherroot Sticks and Soul Sapphire Gems. They have the strength and durability of Diamond, plus a few bonuses.
-Pickaxe: Can mine Netherrack and Stone without losing durability, because everyone hates wasting pickaxes on Stone.
-Axe: This Axe's durability is not decreased when it breaks Leaves. This prevents constant switching in the Action Bar.
-Shovel: Grass blocks mined with this shovel drop Grass instead of Dirt. Finally!
-Sword: This sword can mine Ice for collection.
UPDATE 2
Hell Gel: A green slimy block. It is placed like a solid, but you can swim in it like water! It can be mined with anything. Mine it with a shovel, and it will drop 4 Slimeballs instead of itself. It generates in clumps in the Nether.
Hellfire Furnace: A furnace crafted with Netherrack. It smelts Nether ores faster than the regular furnace, but smelts Overworld ores slower. It can be fueled in the same manner as Overworld Furnaces.
Crafting Table: The Crafting Table can now be crafted with Netherroot Planks. It looks exactly the same, but the recipe yields 2 Tables.
Dragons: Notch plans to add Dragons to the game. They should spawn more in the Nether than in the Overworld. It drops Dragon Heartstring.
Phoenix: A new mob designed specifically for the Nether. It is a flying mob that attacks directly. If hit by it, you stand a chance of being set on fire. It drops Red Feathers.
Dragon Heartstring: An orange String dropped by Dragons. It is used for crafting.
Red Feather: A crimson feather dropped by Phoenixes. It is used for crafting.
Dragon Bow: A bow crafted with Dragon Heartstring and Netherroot Sticks. It fires Flaming Arrows.
Flaming Arrow: An arrow crafted with a Red Feather, a Netherroot Stick, and a Fire. It is used as ammo for the Dragon Bow. It can set Mobs on fire if it hits. The recipe yields 4 each.
Hellthorn: A red cactus that grows in the Nether. It can be found growing on Gravel. It can be mined for itself. It deals damage to players and Mobs that touch it, and may also set them on fire.
Netherrod: A fishing pole crafted with Netherroot Sticks and Dragon Heartstring. It won't catch anything in water. If used on Lava, you may catch a Cooked Fish.
More coming soon!
Other than that though looks good.
Then why bother replying?
I don't know if it is widely used, but I find holding down the space bar while getting out of a boat helps a lot.