There is very little reason why a new player will want to join open world. They are just targets for all the other players to attack and then shout "but I am allowed to pirate"!
I am playing solo at the moment and having a great time so why would I want to change?
If you did want to encourage people to join open play then perhaps have caps on solo play? Perhaps you cannot buy the larger ships in solo (Python/ Anaconda)? Or maybe you can only attain Elite status in open world play?
Let the new people gain their confidence in solo and then move onto open to gain the "bigger" items.
I am playing solo at the moment and having a great time so why would I want to change?
If you did want to encourage people to join open play then perhaps have caps on solo play? Perhaps you cannot buy the larger ships in solo (Python/ Anaconda)? Or maybe you can only attain Elite status in open world play?
Let the new people gain their confidence in solo and then move onto open to gain the "bigger" items.