Sadly there will be no good social in this game without large changes. Because truthfully it doesn't rely on how you act, but on how others act, and the majority of 'others' is a much a lulz seeking power build punks with nothing better to do than blow you away (or steal your shit, or grief you at a vender) rather than talk to you. I honestly miss meeting good people in towns.
there is almost 0 reward for being nice
The problem is simple, but huge and unavoidable:Why do you want to be "social" with players when you can get killed/robbed/both by those players and there is almost 0 reward for being nice and almost 0 punishment for just killing you and taking all your stuff?Without any rules and "safe zones" there is no way this game will have player interaction other than "me shoot you, haha".
Global karma would be something so nice. If someone wants to play as an evil guy, I don't think he/she would even complain about the negative karma.
Good people aren't in towns. They are on worldmap, encounters or anywhere else grinding or just waiting for something to happen. When good person has to go to town, he enters it, gets what he needs and leaves instantly. There is no profit idling inside.
There is satisfaction you've helped some noobs not to ragequit immediately.