Ignoring the insult, it's a known fact that, when given the option in any game that includes satisfactory PvE content, most players choose to avoid open wold PvP. And this goes even when there is no penalty for losing. Just about every statistic I've seen confirms it, from WoW's player distribution between PvP and PvE servers to LotRO's mostly empty open world PvP zones to Wildstar's PvP server dying down to DCUO's PvP phase becoming mostly empty. So, most players choosing to stay in game modes without PvP, only emerging when in the mood for a fight, is par for the course in any game where players have the choice, nothing newsworthy there.
A known fact? Lol, sure it is. Within which tome is said fact located?
Its not a fact, or anything close. No one really has any idea in reality. What you most likely mean personally, is that in actual fact, its you that avoids open world pvp. So you think lots of other people must too. While i am sure many people do, I don't know the statistic, nor does anyone else. So its a pointless comment to even make, and more than that its just wrong.
What statistic about WoW's servers? You think you are the only one that played WoW? I have seen no such trend over the 8 or so years that i dipped in and out of that game. PVP and RPPVP are just as popular as PVE servers.
As i keep saying, there is no open world pvp in open mode unless you choose it by virtue of poor choice of trading locations or failure to acknowledge risk. The alternative to doing any of this, using brainpower, is just to avoid people altogether. Ok, fair enough, the power of choice is for each individual to make. Just glad more things in the world aren't resolved by running from anything that requires effort to overcome in favour of something that doesn't.
I agree with you, penalties for rampant criminals and murderers are too mild, but as we have heard thats getting redressed soon. It will be a work in progress im sure, but to just write off open mode as a haven for hordes of pvpers which it simply isn't is just a bad vibe in general. The only thing rampant in open mode is a blatant lack of care or situational awareness as far as trading goes, then blaming anything and everyone over oneself, but mainly 'the big bad pvper's' to account for losses of assets.
In open, once you are out of a cobra and into something with a half decent cargo bay like a type 6 or asp, its this simple to trade with a minimal chance of being interdicted;
1 - Fly away from Sol and starting area, at least 40 LY
2 - Find a section of space with some large population planets and systems in reasonable proximity to each other.
3 - Look at the trader's bible
4 - Work out which systems sell the most viable types of goods to others nearby.
5 - Visit some stations, observe some supply and demand ratios within.
6 - Come up with a profit making trade routine.
7 - Have contingency for being interdicted if it happens, don't alt-tab while playing, be aware of any player ships in your vicinity at all times.
In solo though its even simpler;
1 - Do whatever you like as there is no respectable threat from anything flown by any AI that will interdict you.
Each to their own. I don't have an issue with people playing solo if they don't like interacting with others or they have limited play time and want a simpler game experience, or for any other semi legitimate reasons people have said over the course of these topics. What consistently amazes me though is the same people droning on and on, that a reason to play solo/group is to avoid 'non consensual' pvp. Or another way to say it, is to avoid any actual threat.
The only real threat in open is a self inflicted lack of awareness. Then again, i guess the title of the game Elite: Dangerous must have been intended as sarcasm. I mean, people want to play a realistic sim style game, but never actually face a real threat, how realistic. Who knew?
New title -
Elite: Dangerous docking
I mean lets be honest, thats the probably the number 1 main threat in solo/group play.