I want to try npc piracy in the future, too.
Any ship advice that is not cutter? No seriously, no cutter.
First Off OP, these system do still exists, and i am 'Excavating'
one at the moment, so hunt around.
Bigmac: here is my Clipper PvP and PvE Pirating build.......
Clipper Pirate
First off, have a FAST wake scan so when NPC or Player High wakes out you can scan in 2 secs and get after them to get some more LTD's out of their hold. Players might be canny and immediately drop down to space to avoid being hit again after the jump, but Dumb NPC's stay around waiting to be hit again. If they jump to a High security system forget following them as you won't have time to collect many LTD's after hitting them again as security will be on you like a flash.
My build is open to your own requirements on weapons, as the idea is not to fire any except in self defence, but use the clippers speed to get out of range quick and LEAVE. I have a lot of collectors and 'B' Class giving me a greater range. Time is not an issue as after the first hatch breaker drops the LTD's the NPC will High Wake, giving you enough time to collect from 5-10 depending on what drops out. Wake scan MUST be engineered to fast scan so after the last LTD is in your hold boost to high wake and as you hit the range, 2 sec scan, stow sanner and jump in one fluid movement.
As i mentioned Players do what players do, but most don't expect you to follow them as the wake scanner is not used much except for DWE's, but some players will be around in the next system, so you do them again, and they get very irritated
NPC's that have jumped will be around waiting for you to pull them again, and you can follow them again and again to empty their hold if you so desite (High Security Systems forget it.
My build is not for fighting, and won't stand much in a battle, Speed is your weapon with this build. I do use the PH's for the annoying Point defence which will take ur limpets out.
This 'Pirating Malarcky' is great fun, and i don't have to tell you the best place find find player miners as they are mostly greedy and will go to the highest paying station.
I can easily fill the 128 tons with all sorts of good stuff, not just LTD's
ENJOY.