There's a smother option but it takes 5ish years of leaving smothered.
There's the roundup spray option, which is probably the most effective currently? It's critical you spray at the right time (after it flowers)
I saw one option of repeatedly cutting it to eventually starve the plant of energy. I suspect there's some specifics there about when it's ok to cut though.
I knew one of the designers who worked on that (or maybe on one of it's ports?) and he fucking loved the game. He would often describe in detail why it was the superior kart game
Yeah it's great. If you haven't yet check out the pack "Create: Above and Beyond", it's a Create centric expert pack. Pretty challenging and a lot of fun
Yeah what the other guy said, modpacks and give FTB academy a start. Generally the mods add a shitload of new content (like lots more ores). Better automation and electricity is, imo, the best stuff added, and there's tons of that. I find the magic and adventure mods don't quite work as well. My biggest tip for modded mc is: Spread out! Make big ass bases and rooms, you'll love the space.
After that it's your call what's next. A kitchen sink pack is one that sorta rams in a ton of mods with no theme and it's fun! FTB infinity was a lot of fun, or FTB Ultimate re whatever too.
There's StoneBlock which is the opposite of Skyblock which was a different style
Create: Above and Beyond is my favorite. It is hard though and requires that you understand the Create mod.
By the way you'll find that Create is the best mod. It's really fucking well done and no other mod really comes close in quality. Gears and belts!
I remember this story, and boy did.. it go poorly from there. Sounds like he had some issues. Sucks.