With the right commands or plugins, the server could have custom crafting recipes which could bring lots of possibilities. Example: If you use 1 nether star, a wither skull and a stick, you could craft a wither skull that causes withering affect on impact. Its just an example, no one has tried this yet, but we can. Its really simple if you know command blocks and could be used in this current update and the next. Some servers have already tried it as an alternative to using mods, like using golden ingots to make guns or such. Maybe jr could have its only set of crafting recipes if done correctly to make the server seem more exciting and fun
PS: If the server uses a texture pack too, the result of the custom craft would make it look even cooler, like the example above but the sword looks black and has a skull or something.