I love competitive games - FPS, RTS, fighting, PvP MUDs, 4x games, turn-based strategy, etc. My roots go back to semi-hardcore PvP MUDs (all gear lootable but no permadeath), where I was a successful anti-PK. I was an anti-PK because I found no joy in killing people who couldn’t fight back. I wanted to face and defeat other fighters. I also felt bad if I killed inexperienced players, but that’s not pertinent for this discussion.
Despite my competitive drive, I’ve yet to enjoy world PvP in an MMORPG. It comes down to one issue: the statistical gap.
I’m fine with having advantages/disadvantages in various PvP scenarios. On MUDs, I tended to have a statistical advantage because I was sufficiently skilled to maintain a full suit of quest gear. Conversely, I had a numerical disadvantage, because I had no allies as an anti-PK but there were plenty of regular PKs who hated me and hunted in packs. Sometimes I was higher level, oftentimes I was lower level. Perfectly even fights were almost non-existent, but there was plenty of breathing room to either win or lose based on individual skill. The variables kept things fresh, because it was rare to have two fights that were identical.
The problem I have with MMOs is that I’ve never seen that kind of world PvP. You’re either level capped or you’re dead. The statistical gap is insurmountable. It’s important to note that MUD PvP commonly allows you to escape if you’re fast enough. In MMOs, the engagement is less likely to leave room to escape. Usually, you can’t even hit your opponent and you’ll die in 1-3 rapid hits. On the off chance that you can take a few hits, they’ll probably move faster than you and have snares/roots/holds to ensure you can’t escape.
Playing in dangerous worlds is fun (although I don’t always want to be in one). It’s cool to know that there’s danger out there, to hunt and be hunted and have a good sense of survival. It can be fun to get pursued by a small group of players or people who are bigger than you when there’s a chance to escape. It’s not fun to get chased by an F-16 when you’re on a bicycle brandishing your fancy new slingshot. That’s one giant barrier to entry.