pve has one advantage over pvp otherwise they’re identical.
in pve you can choose to go afk for 5m and let your pvp flag expire before resurrecting at your corpse when you’re being camped.
in pvp you just log on an alt to play instead.
that’s about it.
On PvE servers, you just flag yourself and it’s never long before some hunter or mage snipes you from behind somewhere.
We really do get the best of both worlds. 
What’s the appeal of playing on a PVP server vs a PVE server?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to join a PVE server, as you have the elements of PVP attached to it, along with the whole premise of Horde vs Alliance in a world PvE setting.
Seems like an amalgamation of the two would be better than just limiting yourself to one?
Question is… why would you play on a pvp server?
PVE servers are named “normal” for a reason, it’s the way the game is meant to be played… PVP is just a different flavor…
Personally I just don’t see the fun in getting ganked and losing time when what I want is do intances.
Ganking and greifing is a plague…
Why I play on normal servers by Soma :
I love world PvP. Hear me out here. On PvP servers there is little to no world PvP. It’s all just choosing when you have a great advantage and pouncing. On Normal servers ( there are no PvE servers ) PvP happens with equals of level and usually gear. it is a fun and exciting side thing. Plus I can quest in peace if I want.
Why?
To put it simply…I want to xp when I want to xp.
If wpvp happens I will flag up and defend, but…
I hate gankers when I’m not looking to be.
But it’s not like pvp are true pvp servers, they are team pvp, so it’s not like you are doing anything extremely different from the pve servers in all honesty.
Full pvp will never happen on WoW, thus the whole debate is moot, for pvp servers claiming they are but aren’t is just silly.
Confucius, is that you?
Silly wabbit.
There are no true “PvE” servers. Flip your flag on, continue questing, you’ll take an arrow between your shoulderblades or a Frostbolt to the back of your head in NO time.
So-called PvE servers get the best of both worlds!
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing worse then being ganked while FISHING!
NO RESPECT!
on a low pop realm there’s not much difference. when there’s 400 people between you and your raid and it takes 2 hours to get into the instance. not so much
That sounds like the inside of BlackRock Mountain.
Coming soon to a computer screen near you!
I’m just not interested in ganking people anymore. So there’d be nothing to gain from playing on a PvP server.
You honest to god just made me reconsider rolling on a PvP server.
PvP in this games takes me out of the experience.
I cannot be immersed when someone runs around in circles and jumps up and down. Plus non-stop ganking takes me out the RPG as well.
Also I’d wager you would find more of a balance of class population on a PvE server. I sure as hell know I’d be reluctant to play anything but a rogue on a PvP server.
yea if you’re a trihard who wants to get to instances without being sidetracked by ganking. go pve. if you enjoy spontaneous bursts of adrenaline from being attacked randomly by other players who behave nothing like trivial mobs, then pvp is for you.
pvp will make you better at the game or die trying. pve will tolerate even the worst skilled players.
also if you have any remote interest the in pvp ranking system you’ll probably want pvp because in pve your only source is either going to an enemy town flagged to pick a fight (and get vastly outnumbered) or endure battlegrounds which you only get real honor from winning. at least on pvp realms you have the world to explore for bait 
Well some just want to do the PVE stuff without being interrupted. Alliance typically have a stronger showing on PVE servers, because they have had bad experiences being out numbered.
Many PVE server players still like PVP, they just want more choice in when it happens. I used to play on a PVE server and my guild was into battlegrounds. We did them everyday.
Simple. I want to play World of Warcraft (you know, the game) not Dodge the Ganker. It’s a rite of passage? Uh huh. Sure. That’s the excuse for griefing other people. No thanks.
Way back in the day you could bug the system, and get characters flagged. It happened to my brother and I while we were just questing. Then the Horde players who did it camped his corpse. I reported them, and wonder of wonders the GMs responded, and gave the gankers warnings after teleporting them out of the zone.
One of the gankers made an Alliance character, and asked why I did it. Not only did he get the warning, his guild kicked him for it.
Sweet justice.
PVE players are self centred, greedy, control freaks who can’t stand sharing the world with other people. They might as well play retail TBH.
After 100000 hk’s, R13 and R10 vanilla Warrior and Paladin toons im quite entitled to go full carebear this time 