whilst i cannot with any authority (anyone outside of FD's guess is as good as yours) but i would hope its not a bug.
imo low intensity RES vs high should be about probability - ie it should still be possible imo to have a low intensity RES as a hive of pirate activity, but the chances of it happening should be lower than at a high.
for the record if it was me, like you apprear to have,i would RUN! unless they are all sidewinders, then I may suck it and see..