In an effort to add a little more.. random happenings in the mid to late game i propose:
Traveling NPCs or traders.
These traders would trade items or information for goods , services (quests) or money.
They would appear randomly at the village idol. Leaders of the village can turn this on or off.
For newbies... people who are within what we currently have as the 48 hours free time and are not a member of a village. (the current 48 hours free measured as a hidden value on the account) may get stone or other materials that could be hard to acquire mid world. This guy would turn up at the hearth fire and only if the player is seen as active.
The village would have a hidden value on how they treat the NPCs. If they treat them well... as in trade with them and don't kill them. Their frequency will increase (but not to any level where they can be truly predicted or relied upon, it should always feel like a surprise when they turn up). Or they could be killed, and loot all their gear. if they are killed often enough, they will increase prices or stop coming completely.
They could also be spotted in the world, with guards... they are not aggressive unless attacked. And the level of the guards will depend on the level of wares the trader has. This would give people something to raid that gives them good loot, and no player death.
I do understand this goes against a player controlled world. Im just throwing ideas out there to spruce up mid to end game. Maybe this will spark somebody elses mind for another better idea.