Versatility Update/Existing Sandbox Expansion

I just started up a new world, and happened to spawn on an island with only badlands, stony beach, and desert biomes. This unique challenge got me thinking: too many items and blocks here have hyper-specific uses! For instance, I need armor badly, and I see armadillos and think, “hm, due to my unique situation and limited resources, wouldn’t it be cool if I could craft a chest plate from these scutes instead?” I was very bummed that I couldn’t, as it felt like something I could realistically do! Cactus: you could only really do so much with it. So I thought about the possibility of a new upgraded cactus that would offer fruit, since food has been a huge struggle in this world, or maybe even a cool shield attachment made of cactus needles that I can use to protect myself! I believe that players across biomes and regions should be able to use different items and tools in creative ways, instead of just having a direct line of uses. Currently, progression in the forests is the same as in the badlands, which is exactly the same as in the snow. I think it would be a great change to have players be able to capitalize on their surroundings and items at hand to create their own culture! So, in the next Minecraft update, or as the next Minecraft update, I believe we need to expand the sandbox and spread some tech-tree branches!