It has strictly nothing to do with salem nor the devs. What you are discribing is a common phenomenom for this type of game. Have a look at DayZ, how the first hours/days/weeks were, and how it is today. Arkh, Reign of kings,Rust etc... heck I don't know if you've played UO but history repeats. Some people learn the game to be good at it, amongst those you'll have the one that are out there for blood/grief/pvp you name it. You've also encountered THE dick. He was the one griefing early W8 too.
If you don't agree with this, then give me a game that has been running for a while, that has pvp full loot and has in majority what you see as a good community ?
Also don't forget that quite a few KoS pvper WILL help you on the forums when you have questions... eveything isn't black or white as you know
