This would probably be a good read for a lot of the people in here...
http://mud.co.uk/richard/The%20Decline%20of%20MMOs.pdf
If you want something now, heres some options:
The Exiled - Formerly called Das Tal, has permadeath.
Crowfall
Camelot Unchained
All of which require buying into the beta. The only one I have played is The Exiled, tho it's been several months. It's unfinished for sure, but you can murder people so thats better than most other options.