The Electoral College was designed for a system without parties.  Once parties were introduced, the College lost its purpose.

As for mob rule, the College is already affected by urban areas.  The number of "unfaithful" electors is minimal (if even existent) in each election, because Americans have become conditioned to the idea that the electors vote for who their states' citizens want.

There is no way of changing that.  There are liberals in rural and urban areas.  Urban areas are not the problem.  The problem is parties in general.  Unless you abolish the party system, the College is pointless.