I agree that an Inn or Tavern providing passive replenishment of fatigue / hunger / thirst provides a very eloquent and simple way to provide in-game mechanical reason for players to congregate in traditionally a very RP-centric locale. It very naturally fulfills that familiar scene of a populated and busy tavern, but instead of nameless copy-paste NPCs, its filled with players.
Most MMO's have some version of "bank watching" when you're logged in but just talking on VOIP, reading something out of game, or organizing yourself, and players need a place to idle.
I could easily see players of all kinds traveling into a new city and immediately seeking out the nearest tavern to sit down and idle at while their stats replenish and they afk to grab a beer or a snack.