I have an idea for fixing the DZ problem (well, what many argue is the "problem" with the DZ)

The problem is the dynamic of the DZ, which many (I am one of them) believe is unbalanced, unfair (especially to solo players) and has become a free-for-all of griefers running lose with nothing better to do than shoot people in the back. You don't know who the enemy is, and by the time you find out, you're dead. Getting your hands on good gear (in order to fight the 12-year olds) seems overly difficult, with rogues camping entrances and extraction points with their high level gear, and extracting with patch 1.2 is now even harder than before. So you go in alone, you have no idea who the hell is who, and you feel you have almost zero chance to get the gear (legitimately) that you need to survive.

Well, here's my proposal:

1. You break the DZ up into faction zones. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot. Once a player enters the DZ, he/she automatically joins a faction and spawns in his/her faction zone. You now have backup and a safety zone (sort of, see below) to operate in/from. If you enter with a squad of four, you all go into the same faction. Team/Squad balancing shouldn't be difficult for programmers.

2. Players can cross over into any other faction zone, and kill/loot all they want. (That keeps the "this is supposed to be dangerous and unpredictable" guys happy - the DZ will still be the DZ for you).

3. Looting gear from your own faction zone will get you good gear - kind of like looting in the PVE area. Looting/Stealing gear from a bordering faction zone will get you BETTER gear. Looting/stealing from a farther zone will get you the BEST gear. You can extract anywhere, either back in your own zone or an enemy's zone. Extracting stolen gear or loot from another zone gives you more DZ credits.

4. If you die in your own faction zone, you lose nothing. If you die in another faction's zone, you lose all the gear you're carrying, xp, and DZ credits.

5. Place turrets (LMG, Sticky Bomb) near zone borders, that can be occupied only by players from their respective zones, and can only shoot down toward the street, not at other turrets.

6. Raise the DZ leveling system up to, say 200 max, and slow down the speed of progress.

You want to run wild? Go ahead - but entering another zone will be difficult and could be costly. You could be fired on by turrets with sticky bombs on your way in OR on your way out, and if you die in that other zone, you will lose XP and DZ credits. Loot will be better in other zones, but there's the risk of getting to it and getting back to your zone with it. You can raid another zone, cut ropes, steal, kill, loot, and cause havoc - with a risk. You're a real badass, a real rogue? - Go into a farther zone, steal gear, and extract from there - its faster than running all the way back to your own zone and gives greater rewards.
If you're in your own zone and get attacked, you can defend without risk of losing XP or DZ credits, and you have a better chance of having backup. And now you know who the enemy is - anyone not from your faction.

Maybe a few refinements here or there, but I believe this would work.