I know it sounds dumb at first. Let it mellow.
If a player dies, they have to run back, it's not really abusable. In addition, the devs, the players, everyone, wants this game to be a success, and this requires that players get something out of the endgame, and that players are drawn into this endgame.
The pain of running around gives the devs ample leeway to grant substantial meaningful XP when the lower VRs get wtfpwned by V10+ with shiny gear (which in a recent blog Z said would be getting even better stat-wise).
Players that put up with this BS long enough are eventually on an even playing field this way. Or at least can then focus on progression outside VRs.
My sub is running out in a few days. I'm VR1. I won't be grinding quests or doing the clusterfark in craglorn to try to get XP. I also am not going to PvP in since outside of primetime it's hard to find fights, and always lopsided, because I get nothing from it. Z needs to consider how many people are in the same position. People that came here for DAoC PvP, not for endless leveling.