Question: Have you ever thought of PermaDeath, La Grandmaster?
Something that can be turned on and off like how it was in The Last Days for M&B, for both NPCs and the player character. I think that NPCs 'Lords' (Gang Leaders; whatever they are called in The Reckoning) should fall dead from time to time, though not very often. It would be ridiculous, IMO, if I defeat a Confederate general(?) one hundred and fifty times in the game, and he's still mocking around.
Or mayhaps something like an injury system, at least?