This has nothing to do with "evil PKs", also. But yes, ban all PKs, turn server population into <30 people.
Instead of giving new players gear maybe they could get a dog that "doesnt die".A dog that just seems to keep going wherever the player goes and if it dies it'll reappear after a while, limping like it's been thru hell and back.When the player hits level 5 or so the dog'll dissappear.Or give them "newbie" gearstuff that cant be dropped and carries with them through death but cant be repaired and will eventually break.