the diamond-niobium route is a good example. sure, it was powertraded to hell. but it sure livened up the space through which it went:P
New Berlin was flooded with pirates, and thus lawfulls (now that the lulwut BHG indie caps are all but gone, it should be a tad better now)
Sigma 13 was, well... let`s say I laughed VERY hard on multiple occasions there. Outcasts, Corsairs GMG, Bounty Huters, Dragons and GC shooting each other to pieces. traders running amok in convoys. sure, it lacked form and rp, but it was fun in most cases. and some very nice rp was also to be found there on occasions.
Hunshu and New Tokyo were also far busier with pirates when the route still excisted. giving both the GV, dragons and KNF something to do.
so, remake that kind of route, only less oorp. hell, make several of these high profit routes. the pirates and thus lawfulls will come pouring in again.
and yes, so will the mute powertraders. but let`s be honest: they`re all in Zoner iff-ed Whales now anyway, still being as mute as ever. might as well make them serve the greater good by letting them attract life to dead systems.