Isn't this already a solved problem though? Why can't you have the option of PvP and non-PvP servers?
It doesn't really solve the problem to be honest because the PvP servers tend to be pretty toxic cesspools, while the PvE servers tend to be much more passive and co-operative.
Essentially I think the PvP and PvE servers attract quite specific types of players, and by separating them out you get more extremes. It tends to make the PvP only servers a bad environment for someone who just wanted a balanced experience of the game.
It's also the case that when you build faction PvP into the game, there are elements beyond combat that factor into your success, such as when you choose to hunt, where you attack, etc. But on PvP specific servers (where there are non-PvP alternatives) because everyone is ready for PvP all of the time, it feels like you loose that strategic element.
I used to play an MMO called Dofus that featured open PvP which I feel worked pretty well. Essentially anyone could be attacked by anyone, but if they were not aligned to a faction then NPC guards would appear to protect them. So, like a flag system but one where you could also push the rules if you were willing to suffer consequences. Unlike flags though, being part of a faction meant that PvP was always on for you, not something you could flag on and off, so that meant a lot of players were encouraged into that system. You could abandon your alignment whenever you pleased but that would mean losing your alignment standing, so most players did not want to.
Basically, you can create open PvP while encouraging PvP between players that want to fight, and punishing players that attack those that don't want to. It doesn't always have to be a complete separation of PvP and PvE server, and I think sometimes that separation goes against the design intent.
Yup. In old-school WoW you were either getting ganked constantly or you weren't on a PvP server.
This is what I'm saying though, by creating those PvE only servers you have all of the social, co-operative players in a separate space and that creates a different dynamic for the whole game. PvP servers end up being gank city, whereas if PvE servers did not exist, those players on the PvE server would often be the type to form alignments and co-operate to protect each other.
There's definitely a middle ground between strictly PvP or PvE servers which I think can be more interesting.