IMO: I don't care if piracy is a Valid(tm) role. Or if it's Griefing(tm).
It just doesn't make any sense to me to play a game where I play the victim to someone else's criminal. Sure, I could weapon and shield up and fight back, but then I'm playing their way instead of mine. I've played sports game before, and sim-style games, and games too which involved combat. But in all those games we were all playing the same way, not an asymmetric game where traders/miners/explorers get pirated or destroyed and have not much way of fighting back other than abandoning their choice of play-style.
If some traders enjoy the thrill of likely being attacked while busy in some other activity, great. For me it has zero appeal. Zip. Nada. Bupkis.
I've tried to think of ways of reducing the risk for non-PVP players in Open while still allowing illegal gameplay (and I've suggested some). If I can pick my own risk/reward level, great! It'd be a great thrill to run the gauntlet by taking a shortcut through the pirate-infested Badlands and see if I make it to the far side. But if I can be attacked anywhere, anytime, when doing anything.. no thanks.