Toxicity is relative, I’d say. I’ve not been part of the community for many years, so it's hard for me to gauge a thing like that. That said, this server used to have some really loony people that, thankfully, are mostly gone--which, strikes me, can only represent an improvement. The zero tolerance policy for hacking in 2.0 was nutty. ?
I applied in 2011 as an elf, and--for the most part--played elves until I left. My main, however, was a Dread Knight for the last 2-3 years I was an active member of the community.
Yes, but not as a way to test the quality of their RP. It can be a good indicator of their age, their intellectual maturity, and their ability to write with at-least some dynamism. I was on the AT for a couple of years, definitely appreciated that part of the app.
Sagwort.
I was on the AT--not sure how that role has changed since I left.
Shiftnative. Really cool dude. Managed the server really well.
I don’t really know the different types, since they weren't things when I started playing here. I only encountered them on and off when they were introduced, since I never really played mages. That said--Monk Magic and Dread Knight blood runesmithing would be my top two magics.
Honestly? I can’t remember any, it’s been waaaaaay too long.
The Vaquixine thing, right around 1.0-2.0.
Little bit of column A, little bit of column B. LoTC took up too much time and required way too much investment--intellectual, and emotional. It also gave me a place to explore my nascent interest in religion, creative writing, and public speaking (even if it was more ‘internet speaking’)!
LoTC has always had people who spend almost every waking hour in its skeevy clutches (the harm). It’s also always had pockets of genuine community where people could come together and mess around (the benefit).
Hope that answers your questions well enough!