If you choose open as a mode, then you should absolutely sacrifice 10ly or 16t cargo space to be able to survive. Gamble with what you are prepared to lose is Open 101.
I think whole problem lay in fact that we dont have 2 open modes: pvp and pve. You see, this is an online game, and in open we chance to meet cool guys, like ive met some random guy on planet, near one of poi, we had short chat and stuff. In open you may have hope to meet someone. In solo nope, in pg smaller chance i think.
But even them if we had 2 modes how to deal with pirating? Pirating is very ok (healthy way to adress mining profits, better than nerfhammer we got)
No Cmdr has a moral obligation to another in game [...]
You might want to reconsider that.
Why there would be diffrence between real world and game, in that (moral) matter? Explain.
In real world one is nice to another, because a) wants to be good just like that b) is afraid of consequence, either legal or revenge.
If b) (which doesnt exist in game) then this is not being moral. Its being coward.
So, following that logic (if flawed, please show me where exactly) we have murderhobos in here, and they are just a-holes cause b) was only thing stopping them. And thats why fighting them, with for example making separate pvp server which would limit number of their victims.
Also, you said that if you dont sacrafice 10ly you get ganked. Okay, but then, if you gank, expect moaning on the forum. Or being blocked.
By the way is there something like list of gankers?