To be completely honest, I hate 1.9. I'm guessing anything above 1.9 will have features of 1.9, so I don't want it implemented.
The main reason is the PvP. I am a passionate PvPer (not on this server much) and I don't like the new "cooldown period" you have to wait in for your attacks. Even the whole update is named "The Combat Update". What's wrong with the way it is? I can kind of see how they did this to stop people using spam click hacks, but there are more fair players than hackers. I don't see the point.
Shields are a stupid idea. What's the point of blocking arrows when you can press the "a" or "d" button to move away from it? And, if you're holding two things at the same time, 1) You could mess up which one you use, and end up fighting a creeper with a hoe, and 2) What's so hard about scrolling up or down the tiniest bit? Therefore, there is no point in having these defensive strategies.
And then there's the other items. Tipped arrows. What's the point? Arrow of Regeneration, Swiftness, Fire Resistance, Healing, Night Vision, Strength, Leaping, Invisibility, Poison, Weakness, Slowness, Harming, Water Breathing and Luck. Seem familiar? Exactly. They're potions. What's wrong with POTIONS? And the Elytra. There is absolutely no point to this. I mean, Survival Mode is meant to be Survival Mode. No flying. If you can glide, what good is this? If you want to fly, just do a simple command. /gamemode c. Or /gamemode 1. It's that easy. It's ABSOLUTELY USELESS.
I sum up my case. 1.9 is stupid, and so is everything after it. Stay in 1.8, thank you very much.