If you want traffic in RSRD, do a career out of Brisbane mid/late 42. You'll get sent near Rabaul frequently and there is quite a bit going in and out there. You'll also be able to head to the slot to interdict some warships. You should be able to dominate the tonnage leaderboard easily with a Brisbane career because there is no lack of targets (many big ones too).
That sort of leads me to a question, if I continually sink ships near a port, will they send out patrol craft/destroyers to investigate? Airplanes?
Definitely something needed for SH5 whatever and wherever it occurs is enemy traffic that adapts. If I'm sinking ships in one area, merchant traffic should be rerouted away from that area. Adding fellow AI subs would go a long way in adding to immersion if a successful sub in another area pushed traffic towards your area...anyways just daydreaming