Now, I wanna jump in here before this turns into an intense back and fort about long-time players being pushed out of the Dark Zone back in The Division and just not returning.
That adrenaline-fueled blood-pumping anxiety you described regarding the old DZ is hard to force and even harder to artificially replicate. It was natural. And depending on who you ask, it was wonderful.
If you're noticing a stark lack of players in The Dark Zone, what do you feel might entice them to come back, without diminishing the core experience that already exists in PvE?