Today, I got killed by a lair megaboss with a regular attack (Bunica Padurii’s attack hits (Normal) you for 13350 physical damage.) and my anima essence did not suffer. Usually that’s 100 shards down the drain.
Then I ported to Kaidan to test this and got myself killed twice by a bunch of regular mobs, both times I did not get any anima damage and therefore no repair costs.
Thanks for the unannounced “death is free” weekend I guess ?!
It never was consistent. I am unsure what counts and what not but some deaths don’t cost shards.
But since I have more shards than I ever need I never digged into it further.
Just figured it was a result of the boundary between this world and the Otherworld being more easily be crossed c/o Samhain.
Same experience in NYR e10 - no repairs even after 2 hours of “practice”
We’ve been paying for repairs in NYR e5 all night. 
Dying to the Lurker’s fist has always been a death free from repair costs, even back in the Secret World. And so has Dr. Klein’s Wave of Mutation, if I’m not mistaken. There may be a few other “free” deaths, but I don’t know any particulars. These deaths, however, did not give you immunity from repairs thereafter. Something is not working right.
I’ve noticed this too. Just played through VMC on e5, died about 10 times and even though I got the “your anima essence has weakened” message each time, I’m still on 100%. And I know I’ve died in dungeons a fair few times since last repairing it too.
I’m unsure of it but I think I’ve had the opposite effect with some deaths where it costs me more than 100 for that death.
Also tack Death by Jack’s Hysterical Laughter to the free deaths. Which only kills my hilariously undergeared alt, my low to moderate and my heavily geared main will survive.