So a middle-ground where opposites have to respect that other players may have an alternative and relevant viewpoint? Dammit, Jim, it might just work.
It's where I sit. I think the AI improvements give more challenge, but I do think that challenge needs to be balanced with player time/skill/investment. Being wary of that balance in interdictions seem sensible. Anything else I think should be challenging. It's good to see FD trying to locate that balance, and I imagine that's a near impossible task when two gaming camps feel they legitimately require such opposing things.
I said it before and repeat again, IMO the AI was not a problem, there were other things like bugged/OP weapon, chain-interdictions and too much high-ranked NPCs.
Moreover, there are certain players who do not even know (or simply does not care about) difference between AI (which stands for “Artificial Intelligence”, or, more precisely, imitation of it) and NPC’s stats (like weapon power, turning rate and so on). And these players demanded to nerf AI because they died from overpowered rapid-fire plasma.
Attempt to reach some middle ground will probably fail.
Because some people do not want to make any compromises, they want it all. And they are “vocal minority”, they will demand, they trash-rate the game on steam and make youtube videos about “death of ED”.
It is based on seemingly valid statement that EVERY player should be able to have full access to ANY kind of activity in game.
But in case of ED it means that everyone, regardless of their skill, should be able to farm HazRES on D-grade Cobra. Because if not – than they cannot access this part of gameplay due to “difficulty wall”.
I have seen posts like “I should not have to use FA-off to survive” and “I am not combat pilot, but I want to do everything – exploration, trading AND combat”. That is why AI was nerfed, and will be nerfed even more, again and again, to make least skillful of players happy (or at least silent) at the expense of everyone else.
I am sorry for my poor English; it is not my native language.