The reason there aren't 100 players online like before, Printer, is that you're doing things that are contradictory to one another.
High rate server - BUT AOL costs 50k and can't buy rings from rashid, no one wants to do djinn quests on a high rate.
High rate server - BUT Loot drops fairly decent, but don't leave much left over to cover deaths/war expenses (people fight a lot on high rates, it's not 'random pking' as you said). In fact loot sort of 'breaks even', sometimes you'll make a nice profit, but usually not.
High rate server - BUT you think it's going to be a Tibianic or Realots with a big community and people making friends and cuddling each other like it's carebear land.
People play 7.4 high rates for the old school feel and to have some battles and a fucking good time, not to do quests and have trouble making money.