"For my part, I know a low cap would take the pressure off. If I knew the cap were low enough that I'd eventually hit it without really doing anything special then I'd feel no pressure to do anything special. Which is nice. Of course a cap of "zero", i.e. no EP for PK whatsoever, also takes the pressure off, but it loses the ability to incentivize."

There are loads of pressure to PK. I always feel people are not taking me seriously until I have some kills.

Try and become leader of any cabal (other than Herald or Acolytes) with 0 PK wins. Get a third legacy or a quest form with 0 PK wins. Probably can't even get empowered to 51 if you're a shaman or paladin, if you don't have some PK wins.

I GUESS if you can write a contest-winning role... but I always felt this was a perverse incentive at its finest.

Unless that perception changed (and I'm not sure it needs to change), edge points would remain a lesser incentive than trying to get a reputation for being competent.