Implement a way to read/write itemmeta without expensive cloning

[ghost]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
Itemstack.getItemmeta() even when you only want something like displayname clones the entire meta and if the item is a written book, runs heavy regex on every page taking excess of 100ms in some cases

Describe the solution you'd like
perhaps getitemmeta(boolean snapshot) or a new interface called liveItemmeta etc. Something that wouldn't break plugins already using it this way. Perhaps parts of the meta could be initialized when the for example getlore() methods are called etc

Describe alternatives you've considered
There isn't really any other solution other than using NMS to read NBT an item's NBT tags.

Additional context
Add any other context or screenshots about the feature request here.

[electronicboy]

ItemMeta is contractually a snapshot, there is no way to implement ItemMeta without cloning the entire existing data structure; This would need to be an entirely separate API for this specific purpose

[MiniDigger]

I mean, couldn't you say the same about block states? yet paper still allows you not take a snapshot

[electronicboy]

That API works fundamentally differently to how ItemMeta works