The point is, how to involve small faction players, or small groups of players into PvP in northern towns again. In few first eras, there was a custom, to get 2 or 3 friends and check all pvp cities, if there is not any enemy. This disapears. IF YOU DONT TEAM PVP, than it is hard to explain you, that this could work. But try it: very often there are few players that wants PvP and there is no opportunity. Ok, you can try Reno, or Hinkley. But northern cities are empty without any reason.
1) Number of NPCs providing the protection money quest:
The number of NPCs with dialogue i suggested could be high, i.e. 10-15 in each city or more. That would motivate players to check NPCs in all PvP cities. Players could go alone, or in small group. I expect, that they would not gather 10 players with best equip to check NPCs for few caps. But small gangs, or small group, that are not able to TC at that moment, can do something else than camping mines. I think that those groups would meet each other and it could result in PvP with small number of players.
Basic quests are not repetable, if they are, they need specific requirements (level, charisma, ...) and because of this only tiny fraction of players are making them. => still cities are empty.
2) Attract players to cities, but also hold them for some time.
In comparsion to classic quests, my idea expects that players searching for avaible NPCs would stay much longer. If i do classic quest (or trade), i try to get out as soon as possible to avoid PKs. My idea executions needs to check NPCs in city that should be in different places (not in one house), so you would stay there longer (because of movement, searching, checking,...). Also luring attention away from mines could improve gameplay, but this is not main reason.
3) This quest should be aimed for PvP chars. So no charisma requirement, no other, than faction membership requirement should be implemented. Again. This should support PvP among small groups or small gangs..
4) Everyday quests.. yes, but this needs a lot of scripting, inventing, writing ... My idea needs one script and many NPCs acroos northern cities. Again.. the purpose is to bring back classic small PvP fights.
P.S.: I have barter char (every era), even sneak barter char.. but there is not anyone except NCR