Another thing to add is that just because you have magic, does not mean you don't carry a set of chain and a sword around. People who RP melee characters or magic will still need MC representation, and the likely hood is the magic plugin won't shield you from the necessity with its own resources when its released.
I have seen groups of 8-9 killed in closed rooms where they had absolute advantage by even just 1 person because they all went and had no armour and ended up hitting themselves. One of the occasions (of many) I asked why these people don't carry armour. They always reply that "They shouldn't have to, their mages."
Just because your a mage, does not mean you get a cheap and easy life without armour and weapons and expecting handouts from governments every warclaim. You must always own a couple sets of chain (Literally, a days voting accounts for the cost of a set), and you will be fine and dandy to protect yourself from bandits.
Its a social effect, if everyone is equally well equipped and a small playerbase of PVPers harasses a larger one, the larger one ends up finding their consistently outnumbered. It will eliminate just the cases where 1-2 people can hold up the standing inn etc.
And one last thing. If someone is banditing someone else, and there are enough people around, its not just the victims fight. Its always your fight if you are a victim to bandits and aren't friends with said bandits.