The pop is probably falling because you can't leave Fab without getting insta-killed by a blue guy who wants your ore, leather, or just the kill stat. The correlation between player drop and your perceived "more punishing for PVPers" is unfounded. The player pop is dropping because anyone new to this series of game says "fuck it, I'm out" and goes back to one of the other million games they can play, after they get PKed by some random asshole(s) for the 4th time literally in a row, in one night. I'm also guessing you're one of those random assholes.We need the game to be carebear and punish the PvPers...
Game has been increasingly more and more punishing for PvPers and yet the pop continues to fall. We are sub the height of betas pop now.
beta was a better game.
ALSO - PVP is not PVN (player vs noob). This isn't 1995 - there are plenty of alternatives for people to go to which don't involve them being fodder for some sociopath gamer.