I agree with this, and think there may be ways to do this while still being somewhat realistic.
For example, it could be easy to start off with a vehicle, but they can't be repaired, gas is 10x harder to find, and nothing respawns. So eventually you have to give it up and walk everywhere. (I'll admit I'm getting this from TWD where they start out in an RV and eventually have to abandon it.)
Also, one of my "asks" that I forgot to ask about was seasonal weather. You start off in "summertime" where everything can grow, but then winter comes and all your crops fail, so unless you prepared you're screwed.
I think that these sort of "depleting resources" mechanics would make it a world that felt a little more real, because the world gets more and more apocalyptic as time goes on. It also complements (rather than detracts from) the ever-present zombie threat, since you'd have to go into more and more dangerous situations to eat.
...Of course that's what mods are for.