See, the problem here is not necessarily the risk to crafters/gatherers, but the threat of boredom.

If naked punchers are the best way to pvp now, that's maybe not so bad, after all, we're all desperate survivors fighting over a few scraps.

If naked punchers are still the best way to pvp in three months, after crafters have skilled up and created decent weapons and armor for their tribes, then we have a serious problem. Then the game will always only be about naked punching, and that will get boring fast.