I agree, unfortunately. The more I think about this topic, the more true it becomes in my mind. Repopulating would frustrate players, myself included. Having to refight and refight my way through areas... No thanks.
Also, I must say, the "make people walk to return to a place to safely rest" thing is also not appealing. Like I said somewhere, Icewind Dale. Didn't stop me from returning to the inn to rest. It was just annoying having to backtrack all the time just so I could proceed.
Random Encounters also don't really work. I mean, again, after some greater consideration, I have to agree. They would just annoy and frustrate, just like they did in BG1 and 2 and Icewind Dale. I try to sleep, interrupted, kill enemies, spam sleep again, interrupted, fight enemies, spam sleep again, over and over until I sleep. Did it stop me? Nope. Just annoying.
That's why I'm saying, make short rest more important and valuable so long rest is less desirable to spam a lot. That's the only solution I can think of right now.
