There are PvP players who are happy with the game as it is as well.
Because Open is not a "PvP server" - Open allows PvP by consent.
Two different things.
OPEN. CONCENT.

And I do not care about consent. My preferred experience is to be always in danger of attack. Then to dodge all attackers/get wrecked by them, but then come back strong. And then either make other's life miserable or protect others from occasional attack.
And this is not just my own kink, PvP servers were always more popular in WoW. But there are almost no people leveling the old way. Everyone just spam dungeons and pokemon battles in between.
And they are merging servers to preserve leveling experience of those who would still like to quest it out.
As well as they are buffing PvP mode to counterbalance things for those who would still like to get that feeling of danger.
As unsupported by any potential gains risks are outright .
And let's not forget that leveling is only the part of things. In WoW as well as in ED. And they are rewarding late game for those in PvP mode as well...
But I do not go into influence problem yet. I will get to it at focused feedback.
And that late game of combat pilot in ED sucks is another question as well.
I used the following analogy in another thread:
ED is an empty field, available for anyone to use as they wish. You can walk your dog there, play football, frisbee, anything you like. You are complaining that you can't play football because there are no goalposts, no lines on the grass. Of course you can play football on an empty field, but you want a stadium. If a stadium is built on the field others can no longer walk their dog there, or play frisbee. It's just a field, learn to share.
If it is just that as you described, why you do not want for people to receive some benefits if they chose to lift some weights on that field? Their effort is quite quantifiable, compared to just lazing there, after all...
But still, let me get deeper into that.
Thing is, there are some goals. Intermediate ones, no doubt. Yet they are shiny. But they are still just means, but you have to get them first in order to use them. And everyone around you has them already, leaving you very-very jealous.
This no-doubt empty field was advertised to me as a giant field full of crocodiles. Yet for those who do not like crocodiles, they are made as completely optional.
I like fields with crocodiles. Fighting crocodiles is my fav past time. And running away from them makes my life richer.
And it's not just me. The majority, I assure you, do want to either become crocodiles or fight crocodiles. (PvP servers were always more popular in WoW.)
But then, you can just switch crocodiles off whenever you like. And then back on. You are risking your legs, but you completely do not have to. Distance to those shiny goals is the same for everyone. And you feel like some cheapskate when everyone around you has those shiny things already.
Does not playing with crocodiles on just makes you look stupid? But I will make my experience worse if I switch crocodiles off. Can I get at least something tangible to keep them turned on?? Some die-hard shoes to allow me to move faster in that swamp of crocodile poo at least?
I came on that field to play with crocodiles, after all. But I always prefer to get to my goals first. Not to mention that I am fracking jealous of those who already are having fun with those shiny things.
But then crocodile-haters start to yell "Why he would receive better shoes and I won't??? I do not care that running away from crocodiles is hard, his crocodile fetish is his own choice! I hate crocodiles, and I do not care if running away from them makes his life richer!"
... I can't go on without drugs. Sorry. [knocked out]
And I had checked your proposal as well.
First, locking players away in one system is a no-go. It should be everywhere possible. And, as I said, as long as PvE and PvP people do not confront directly, this should be fine.
Secondly, scoring is all over the place. What you miss is that power is not the goal by itself. It is more about means.
- So hauling something strictly in the Open does work.
- Leaving cap ship in the open does work.
- Some winnable at last BGs would work.
I should actually hurry up with formulation. Focused feedback for squadrons is close.