Basically any significant Java software uses disproportionate amounts of RAM. My server can easily run a web server, database server, ftp server, memory cache, etc., times a few copies because various containers have their own web server or whatnot, all at the same time. But a single copy of Minecraft is too much, even when everything else is shut down.

That's why I struggle with the server: it's written in Java. Other game servers don't seem to have this problem. If the network protocol were all, that'd be great

(I didn't downvote any of your posts in case you now wonder if that was me)