Don't have the time to answer to every single aspect, but I have to say that I agree with the general notion that pvp (especially in snubs) is very hard to get into, and it is also true that a small group of players who mastered it seem to enviously guard their territory against everybody who tries to "invade it" by "undeserved" means. I can even understand that - and it is no problem in a bustling game with X-thousand players.
But having the snub pvp aspect practically impossible to get into is not good for Disco. Believe me, I have been leading a newbie faction for years and I have always tried to motivate players to also go for pvp as a part of the game, but I would say up to 80 % of players flat-out told me after trying: I am useless. I'll stick to trading.
And THAT is not good for the game.
The pvp part has to be accessible for everybody.
That also means that you SOMETIMES have to be able to be successful, to find motivation.
Currently (excluding broken Sidewinders that will be nerfed into 7th hell anyway), there is very little incentive to even start pvping in snubs. You will not make it. You will never win. You will be a cheap blue, and you will be even punished for trying now with the stupid 2h-death-rules that even counts when the killers log off.
So, rambling rambling... part of Disco losing people is that the snub pvp part is way too inaccessible to be attractive.
I am not good enough to say how it can be achieved, but some of nomnom's ideas sound logical to me.
