Actually Mevans made a thread not too long ago debating about this question. https://lotrminecraftmod.fandom.com/wiki/Thread:358784
I'm just wondering, since Mojang deobfuscated the code recently, what this might entail for updating the mod to 1.15 when that comes out?
This doesn't change anything for Mevans when updating the mod. With 1.7.10 -> 1.14 many, many internal names already changed, and changed names are the least problem with updating. If some things have another name in 1.15 again, this won't affect Mevans that much. Also, they didn't deobfuscate the code, but release some of the obfuscation mappings they use - but not all (mappings for params etc. are missing). The change is especially interesting for things like Forge, because this eventually simplifies their infrastructure. Though the code is still obfuscated at runtime, so mods still have to deal with obfuscation. The only change is that the names for some things are no longer delivered by the MCP or the community, but by Mojang (but Forge will probably keep some names anyway, because the way Mojang names some things is not always ideal for modders...).
Doubt mojang would do anything to help the modding community, they cannot monetize mods therefore any effort into helping modders is time wasted in their eyes.
