"Encouraging" people to join a group by forcing them to pay money or be incapable of playing the server is not a healthy or positive method of encouragement.
Not just for pixel protection, but by joining a group there will most likely be people who are willing to help new players with other matters and show them the ropes etc.
You can still definitely play this server without being able to lock chests yourself.
Without being to lock chests yourself; yes, so long as you have someone else to lock chests for you. If you don't have that, this server is impossible to play. We have an issue with new player retention, and putting a necessary element of our server behind a $25 paywall certainly does not help.
