I repeat: not everyone wants competition in a video game. I for one do not. For me, the place for competition is real life. A game for me are just a pastime, a leisure activity, a source of mellow entertainment, and since my opinion and money are worth just as much as yours, I don't see why your desired gaming experience should be forced upon me.
So that's what it's all about? Ego fuel? I remember a girl in school who was disappointed to see how mobile phones were becoming so widespread because "I used to be the only one in my class with a mobile" and now she was no longer the coolest kid on the block. In hindsight, I can understand that kind of thinking from a fourteen year old girl, but can we as adults concentrate more on the objective value of things instead of constantly look left and right to see who has it bigger? I don't think I would find a Lamborghini any less appealing even if all my friends had one, nor would I be any less appreciative of the company of a beautiful lady if all the men around me had a lingerie model by their side, but hey, who knows, maybe I'm the strange one. Besides, if achievement is all you care about, have it. Make a separate ranking system for the cool PvP kids, throw in a bunch of badges and medals, maybe set up a "wings system" like in motorcycle gangs. That way you'll still get to stand out from the crowd and all other like-minded players will stare in awe at your collection of trophies and salute you. Everyone goes home happy. Except perhaps that guy whose ship you had to obliterate so you could earn that new super cool medal, but hey, he chose to play in PvP mode, no one forced him. Unless of course someone did...