Yeah. You see, this is where I was getting a little too .... I can't think of the appropriate word.
The reason you would choose Solo instead of Open may be because you are looking after your kids and you don't want to get stuck in a player interaction if you suddenly have to rush away.
The reason you would choose Solo instead of Open may be because you have had a hard day at work and you just want to enjoy Elite without interference from other players.
Does that make sense? Doesn't matter.
It does.
There has been a long list of reasons given why different people use different modes.
Some people just don't want to play with random strangers - and the game is advertised as being able to choose who you play with.
Some in accordance to where they happen to be in the world that day (business trip, on a laptop, some hotels have real bad internet connections).
Some people play in modes in accordance with their mood (or where their anxiety disorder let them play that day).
And don't overlook that last one.
Their are people with anxiety disorders play the game. For the most part in Solo or very small Groups as far as I am aware.
But sometimes, on a good day they may want to play with more people - which is great, and therapeutic when they get a good session going.
All it takes though is 1 person to start ramming / provoking and SENDING CAPS LOCK MESSAGES OVER THE CHAT EXPLAINING HOW THEY WILL DO THINGS TO YOUR [insert family member / pet (or whatever)] to not only ruin that game session but also force them back in to Solo.
Locking them in to one mode may remove the negative there, but it also removes the positive as well.
(and so you know, all my time in open has been positive).
Lock the modes and you're locking people out of open.
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And the KDF crying for a nerf bat every time a new console was introduced, because Cryptic only had PvE in mind and they were OP as . But we probably shouldn't derail the thread with old wounds from a game that Elite should strive NOT to mimick
Well, as most of the OP consoles were used by the Feds, like that stupid black cloud, gravity well, sensor scramble, engine killing etc.. console. Lost track on how many times I was killed by that

(Yes KDF had them to, but they were the Fed part time KDF players, not the real KDF players

)
Though one lesson I learned in STO that applies here;
NPCs cannot complain when something is over powered. (SCBs spring to mind)
So for balance, I'd like to keep a healthy PvP group here
