Jokes aside, I don't think it's necessary to remove it. Sometimes people just don't feel like RP-ing and just want to pew. Why drive them off to another game when you could keep them close (so close you can even PM them directly in game!).
As it has already been said you don't increase activity by removing content.
What we need is reasons for people to meet, gather and do raids, trainings, patrols etc. Discovery has huge potential in that regard (think persistent universe where the action never stops) but limits itself on purpose (although I don't quite understand that purpose... yet)
I suggested a mining overhaul for factions in this thread, making certain objects / territory more valuable in-game and therefore worth protecting.
We could also do something about the pirates / unlawfuls economy ... The thing is when there are few traders / police around the pirates have the boring job on sitting on the tradelanes waiting for somebody to pass (where they just get avoided due to the wonders of the player list). And even if they meet somebody the target will likely pay and there will not be many opportunities for pewing.
I have an idea on how to fix that and make unlawfuls interact with navy / corporations / smugglers more but it still isn't quite ready for public scrutiny.
