My suggestion is simple. This game of GL should always be FUN. The Lepus event is often frustrating for players due to the rarity of the NPC's.
Dan should increase the number of NPC's with each Holiday pack. I am not suggesting Dan increase the rarity of the current NPC's (like about 1 in 1500).
ie give us some common, uncommon, rare NPC's etc....
Let the causal player see a new ship. Especially the newbies! Get the newbies to wonder about the next Holiday event.
Maybe the common Holiday NPC's gives more experience than one would expect.
Maybe the uncommon Holiday NPC's gives a ship bonus artifact (like weapons +10% for an hour, something like that). Personally I would love to see a holiday NPC drop a Cloak +10% for an hour!!
That would be a great artifact. 
Anyways who knows if Dan will even consider increasing the number of NPC's at each holiday event.
Dan you should keep in mind that the holiday event should be fun for every player - with regards to finding holiday NPC's.