This isn't a gripe thread about getting PKed, before anyone gets that idea.
When you're killed, usually you are resurrected in a place where some NPC there will give you a story about finding you in the desert and nursing you back to health.
Did you ever find it sort of odd that, , happening upon a group of radscorpions that just happen to take you out, that when you're nursed back to health it seems that someone has taken every stitch of clothing and all your items? I kind of do.
How about this: When you're killed, if nobody loots your body, you keep most or all of your items. To balance this out, NPCs that are around when you die should loot your body, if they see you fall. That is, if they're the kind of people that would take your stuff in the first place. Dying in a city would pretty much guarantee that you'd lose everything. Getting PKed would absolutely guarantee the loss of all your items. Being killed by a caravan would make sure you lose everything... BUT getting killed by a pack of wild dogs would only rob you of anything edible and/or leather. In any case, the people nursing you back to health would probably take all your money... it's only fair.
Alternatively, or maybe even in addition to this, there should be some way, in most areas where you start, to get simple items like knives or pipe rifles. Maybe the good samaritan that nursed you back to health would have a little bit of something to give you in order to see you on your way. Nothing major, just some little bit of first aid and a simple weapon. After all, it would make it much less likely that you'd be right back there in a few hours (of game time).