Weapons are meant to be hard to get, and personally, I believe the redzone to be an extremely positive addition to island. It allows a place where rebels can't always swing their cocks around thinking their the best, and everyone from a lone hobo to a gang will feel a bit of risk entering. As Wilco mentioned, being a rebel isn't supposed to be risk free as it was.
This will encourage people to value their lives more, as the gear costs risk, time and money - rather than just money as before. As a previous rebel, I have millions stacked up in the bank and money isn't a problem - However having NLR on both rebel outposts is. It gives people more opportunity to just talk to people rather than the old "Hands up or I'll kill you". It takes the power partly away from rebels, and people will look up more to those that have the balls to venture into the redzone and buy their gear rather than moaning on the forums that its too hard.