This is a fantastic aspect. Jagex has tried to OSRS Items address this issue, but it isn't practical for veteran players. These are the main ones: Quests. I was there to seek out the quest, much like I did to the desert and Morytania. This is the reason why that people visit these locations. The problem is that you aren't able to return once you're finished.
Slayer. It could tie you up to a fight. The idea is that these places are designed to be fought in. Unfortunately, many slayers are tied up in dungeons. But that's because some areas are accessible to everyone. Without the proper gear, I can't run through an area filled with aberrant spirits.
Hunter. Jagex discovered this to be a valuable skill to add. It allowed them to make peaceful areas more accessible. Chinchompas, Kebbits, and even birds (until BurthoTav) demanded that you get out in the wilds to capture the animals. This was a great method to force people to quit the city. Fishing with F2P was a good way to get people out of the city. You must go to Karamja to get the best fishing. This is true for the caverns of living rock.
Woodcutting. Mahoganies or Teaks were/are rare jungle trees. If they are not adding distinct resources to each map area What else do you think? The majority of resources need to be implemented with care to make them effective. For example Mahogany was needed to create an ability to build, while some hunter regions needed to summon, and so on.
However, I believe the map should be slightly larger. Personally, I'd prefer to see smaller villages that have plenty of agricultural land. It could be useful in Buy RS 3 Gold quests. Jagex will have more land to work with. My impression of the proximity to Varrock Edgeville and Gunnarsgrunn feels wrong.