So he's never attacked and destroyed an inferior non combat build for the lulzs? Seal clubbing doesn't just refer to noob killing. If he's never done that then I've got the wrong end of the stick about him. If he has then my opinion stands.
I affirm your right to have an opinion about this matter and it is okay that it isn't the same as mine.
I'd also agree that if you're running around in Eravate whacking Sidewinders that you're very likely the sort of person whose company I wouldn't keep. (1) Seal clubbing in the sense of going after new players in your highly engineered ship is a very weak play-style. That aside, I have to part ways with you when you talk about attacking an inferior build because I don't think that is fair.
I say that is unfair because you're putting a great deal of responsibility upon the PK.
To meet your criteria:
He has to know that the other ship is an inferior build (can they do that?)
He'd have to know what constitutes an inferior build.
He'd have to know that the other player isn't highly skilled and enjoys challenging himself by using an inferior build.
He'd have to know the other player isn't setting a trap (a wing located a short jump away).
For this to work, the entire PK community would have to abide by unwritten rules - I doubt they'd agree on any of the points above.
What happens if Phisto, who murdered me using his Corvette, happens to be flying past me in an unengineered Sidewinder and is clean?
Can I kill him then or does his inferior build protect him?
I don't think it is unreasonable for players to do this math:
1: The other guy picked a PvP game. (dystopian world, no less)
2: The other guy selected a PvP mode.
3: The other guy is in a PvP hotspot.
4: The other guy is 5,000ly from a starter system (and therefore, presumably knows what he's doing).
5: Therefore, the other guy is open to the idea of being attacked.
^------ I don't think that is a crazy set of assumptions.
I think your idea of "not targeting weaker players" is honorable, I just don't see how a person can know the other player is weaker.
I think we have to stick with the obvious cues I present in my 5pt. list.
(Understand that whatever rules we develop for PvP that the lowest common denominator has to be able to understand and abide by them.)
I know when I go out into open I go with the mindset that I could be attacked at any time - by people much stronger than myself.
I like to have that available.
NOTES
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1: There is a big difference between trying it for a couple of nights and getting bored and the very special class of person that can do that for months on end.
But Alas, I have to apply a level of control and decorum. But here's a clue: I have more respect for what I trod in the other day than a seal clubber. But I think that's pretty clear and both sides don't care a jot so no point carrying on is there?
