Uh, "forces"? You see, I'm a currently playing a level ten barter machine. I think i've been PKed six times or so (maybe more) and a surprising few have actually apologized and given me my stuff back, or in one case given me a set of MK2 Metal Armor for the beers I had on my body. My "Kills" tab is still completely empty, and I've never 'had' to PK to survive. As a matter of fact, I've been RPing, (in my demented little brain of course) that he is the only pacifist in the wastes...
Point is, you don't "have" to PK to survive. Its just you pinko bastards with your "The Wasteland Is Harsh" shit that makes the game rather difficult....