I think it is a matter of finding ways to buddy up more. Interactions are what make a world feel 'filled up'. More and better ways/styles for people to interact. What I always found fun was roaming with a bored/frustrated character. Those little isolated pockets of realms are interesting. Dunno about now, but early Swordfell was a hoot with like....7 characters there and almost no interaction with the world but "we cool bro". When it got old or stale...go join a foreign war for a bit. Things being far apart, you have to kind of go look for stuff to do.
Actually, we already have 2 characters on Dwilight. I think if the advies and nobles interacted more then things wouldn't feel quite as empty. Lords should be announcing quests or something when they pop a big bounty in a region.
