The immurshun part is actually sort of valid. If you build to withstand player attacks, you remove all possible excitement from NPC encounters.
Even in open I can go a month or more, without running in to a hostile commander. When I do meet one, they usually just back of when they see my build(usually faster than them, with some defense).
I can tak my ships to CZ or Res and get a challenge, but all interdictions are zero risk.
This is just an example of the balance issues we have. It would actually be more exiting for me to play solo and downgrade my ship.
I'm absolutely not a good combat pilot, so this affects all types of players.
That... actually kinda makes sense.
NPCs are not a threat to any of my ships, unless I build a stock eagle to mess around with.
I'd say buff NPCs, but people would complain even more, because their poorly defended ships would be getting massacred lol.