UntouchableW

I completely agree with everything said in your post. It might also help to figure out what time it is on a server and go in around 4am just as it's starting to get light out. I found there seem to be fewer zombies spawned and typically you're on a foreign server with only a few people on it thereby maximizing your chance of getting the loot and missing other better equipped players. Across multiple playthroughs I've been able to find all the starting items...though some with more success than others obviously.

I'm kind of new to the game too, but yes they did dumb down the chat quite a bit I believe. I think there is still global chat, but most people use direct messages now which are only broadcast for about 100 yards/meters so you only get local chat. I've tried chatting on it a few times but wasn't sure where I even was, though I heard gunshots so they should have been within range.