I agree with your premise, but disagree with your conclusion.
I imagine that it is the user who makes the option available to be attacked or to prepare for attack. And yes, there may be a small number of players who force out of a game to avoid a loss but they need to make these bad moves to allow room for the game to grow. What do I mean? eventually, if there is a player who forces their way of a game prematurely than they should lose their cargo or munitions or the bulletin board missions they currently have or are in. But Why not build the idea that perhaps the developers can incorporate hired help npc mercenaries to protect a target, in this case their ship as they traverse the game. This would allow the credit hungry folk who weasel their way out to have the opportunity to prepare for an issue along the way instead of run from it.
Right now many players are simply used to a computer generated personality that is just not as realistic as an unpredictable human and these are the opportunities that seem like a waste of player space but here is where developers can create the next, most realistic massive world experience.
In my opinion, there should be no more solo play at all.. create and enforce punishments for forced premature exits from game while in battle within "x" amount of distance from an active pursuing target. If the computer crashes or loses connection otherwise ...its just the bad luck of the draw.
