No, using potions requires absolutely 0 skill, and no effort to use. How hard is it to hit someone once with a poison potion, and then chuck an instant damage? I vote that max disables all negative potions and only keeps positive ones. Because I know that people aren't upset about instant healing or strength potions at all.
The thing is, You have to get up-close to use potions. at a flat level, they go 8 blocks at a perfect angle. in the heat of combat, that is hard to do. while your aiming and stuff, the opponent can easily get a few slashes on you. if the sword is enchanted, that could kill you. I still think they shouldn't be touched at all.
YESSSS. If zpw can kill me in my protection 4 simply by brewing and having a group throw some potions, there's absolutely no reason to work for enchants. As for the argument that potions are used by players without the resources to fight with upgraded armor, it's true. But you don't see new players potion bombing powerful people to defend their home. Usually they just die with nothing on them, and continue on their way. It's the experienced players who use potions while raiding, not in defense, that is the problem.
The thing is that unless you have potions or really good enchants you're not really going to do any damage to people wearing Prot IV.
Umm, if I remember correctly. I don't ever use negative potions. But beside that point. People work hard for prot 4, it's not something like potions that you can just get super easy. So is the trade off that people who work hard for good armor can have it taken away from people who have an inventory full of instant damage?
Since everyone has voted I will be adding: You are allowed to use all potions, but you must abide by the No Rushing rules of PVP and are required to wear at least some armor and a weapon (No Full hotbar with only potions)