Along with the technical uses that Hesinde outlines below, minecarts see a lot of use on casual multiplayer servers because they provide a method of AFK-able tr

Along with the technical uses that Hesinde outlines below, minecarts see a lot of use on casual multiplayer servers because they provide a method of AFK-able transportation. Powered minecart rails in the Nether can travel about 325k (Overworld) blocks per hour, so if you want to visit some far-flung territory you can set your character in a minecart, go get a snack, and come back 10 or 20 minutes later. This is slower than many other transportation methods (for example, boats on ice can travel 144k blocks per hour, or 1.1M Overworld blocks if traveling in the Nether), but requires much less active user involvement.