If you go to the refugee area in LA and ask around, you find out that the Consortium has showed up and is helping out. They’re providing food and water, and there’s talk of building houses in Southsun for the refugees.
This would lead to a small town or colony. Which would lead to a greater NPC population in Southsun. Which would lead to more events as the people there try to survive. Which means there will actually be things to do there beyond farm karka.
It may not be PERFECT, but it’s a bit of variety from Orr, it’s closer to LA (meaning lower travel costs), and shows that ANet is listening to some people asking for a reason to go to Southsun now.