I actually had been thinking you were discussing the balance between PLers and RPers giving rise to an imbalance, but I didn\'t want to try to read your mind and be wrong. Since Rpers do not train as hard, the thieving PLers could train past them and make RPers targets for their thievery. But anyone not training hard would not be a good target for long. If a looting system were implemented, it would require measure of the value of the loot as a guide for the practice points.
Of course, they could also measure the differences in agility stats as a guide. It would create the need to \"bite off more than you could chew\", at least from the PLer standpoint. Thievery as an RP option in this game would have to be relegated to NPCs anyway as I can see the overall disgust in the idea of looting PCs. There are \"griefers\" that would utilize this as a means to easy money from new players, leaving a rash of \"beggars\". This would be good RP, but the looted would only feel victimized, cheated, etc.
I am interested in the idea of looting an NPC that is being attacked. The odds of getting caught are greater because you have a group of PCs and NPCs that could catch you. If you loot the NPC, it would have to be one that can carry things: mercs, Rogues, etc. Wouldn\'t it be interesting that the merc you\'re fighting suddenly doesn\'t have a sword and is looking for it. This would lower the amount of XP you then get from the merc because he just became an easier target(say from 200 to 50). You then have to sneak away from the PC and NPC or face the consequences.