I agree it's at least a minor problem. Being fragged for no apparent reason is offputting when you're expecting an RP game. Save for CF's great areas and well-considered rage delete feature, I would have left over it as well. The argument that "It didn't really hurt you." - while important to make - still misses the point: Is this fun?

That said, how on earth could this be fixed? I've seen far more RP-centric games still have trouble with low-level serial killers, or else become so restrictive that appropriate PK is stopped. When an offender can easily create a new character, how can you effectively punish him?

Certainly I'd encourage veteran players to uphold community standards. (As in: Please don't strengthen obvious non-RPers by allying with them.) But mostly, I think this comes down to encouraging newbies:

1) The game does become more RP-oriented at higher levels. Even going from 10 to 20 seems to greatly improve RP. Patience.
2) At low levels, you can easily re-equip well enough to level in a threesome. Soon, most of your lost equipment will be obsolete anyway.
3) You can now make up for con loss by wearing a +con item or two, without even spending a train.
4) Every time you die, you learn how to better avoid future dangers. Think how useful that'll be when people start killing you for RP reasons!
5) If you're at the end of your rope, get some advice. Many higher-level characters have a IC interest in mentoring potential future allies. We've also got this great forum to ask questions on....