The issue is that the game cannot determine intent... To that end the rules have to be pretty black and white. If what we have now is too complex for some players, just imagine how people would react to the possible 'mitigating excuses' that you have already identified.
It's the reason that friendly fire has to be a bounty too. "Hey, I wasn't even targeting them, obviously it was a mistake, how come I'm wanted now?" Well, plenty of players quite capable enough with weapons to be able to chip away at another person without targeting them. Intent, the game can't tell, so there has to be a simple binary rule, and if we break that rule then we face whatever consequences.
Generally, people only look at the issue from one direction here on the forums. They understand that they made a mistake, but don't see why the punishment should be so severe. If they actually were able to think it through, they'd see that if they were on the other end of the mistake, they would likely want it to be just as it is. The irony is that there are already plenty of posts where people complain that they got a bounty because they were attacked and got wanted for defending themselves. That's typically down to buggy behavior, but the point stands I think that no one would be happy with that situation were it possible in the game.
At first glance, sure its simple... then you need to account for modules, which you can trash an entire ship before dropping it to half hull... thats even more programming crapola to input. The current system in game is actually decent, but with the wreckless discharge non-functional the game is jumping straight to bounty.
Have you seen what happens to loiterers? Game can be straight up Old Testament brutal at times.
I honestly believe that you think it's simple, but it's so not simple...
If I am attacked, I will destroy the ship that attacked me, and I'm pretty sure that you would want to do that too. The only reason I would not destroy the ship is if it wakes out on me, because once it has waked out it is no longer in a position to attack me.
You are proposing that if I am attacked, I have to moderate my response, and may not continue to defend myself without falling foul of the law / rules by making sure that I stop shooting when their hull approaches 50%. And if they are still shooting me, but have still not taken out my shields? Do I really have to wait until my shields go down and I've taken a bit of hull damage before I can finally rid myself of them?
As I said above, the game cannot tell intent. It simply says you have been attacked, you are free to defend yourself because your attacker is now wanted. That is simple.
