Just because a character is following or not attacking a mob and staying near party...

DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE AFK!

Simple solution: Make mobs and things harder that require more than 1 member to kill mobs, this would make idle following harder to do.

I do not see a problem with Idle/Inactive Following if the whole group is allowing it. On the other hand, if the group is not allowing it and someone goes to leech without an agreement, then it is up to the leader to boot them from the party. People who start these stupid threads about "I'm jealous, someone else is helping someone else rank up but not me" should really stop. If SE does anything on restriction how you play it will only hurt the game. Too many rules = failed game. Solution as said above: Make the mobs harder, this makes inactive players hurt the party, right now the game is TOO EASY!