If you aim at a survivor, you hear a heartbeat, the faster it is, the lower their humanity. But to be honest, I haven't heard anything yet so I'm not sure if it's working.
I like keeping the hatchet out of the tool slot. That was unrealistic and made the game a breeze once you had a full tool kit. I don't think the game needs to be made easier. Wood is plentiful enough (I suppose they could make some random wood piles spawn in forests) and it adds another incentive to go without a primary gun for the hatchet.
Bandit Skin was the worst idea the game has had yet. I'm glad it's gone and I don't even think the heartbeat thing is necessary. Either avoid other players or communicate with them.
Zeds drop food and water like it's going out of style, plus if you have hunting supplies it's no problem. I wish they would leave food and drink as a rare spawn.