Oh, it's not merely an issue of competence, though. While I would freely admit that I'm not going to be as good in combat as a PVP player, that's hardly all there is to it.
I'd welcome further improvements to the AI (although I think there are plenty of ways to find a challenge against NPCs when I want one - I regularly flee due to pushing my luck).
But as I was saying, it's also about fits. There are simply modules, weapons and strategies that work very well against NPCs but not players. So they'd have to figure some way of bringing that into line, or I'd be penalised by players just because I'm kitted out optimised for PvE at the moment. Which would be tedious.
But let's say they do some work and bring it into line so that there's no difference between a good PvP fit and a good PvE fit. And they improve the AI to such a point that it rivals players. Even then, I've no interest in fighting players. Flying with them co-op? Sure. Fighting them? No interest, even then.
I just like to co-operate or fly alone. That's it. If my way of playing is valid (and I think it is) then I think it should be provided for, too (in a more meaningful way that the current provisions which require the honour system).
Anyway, I want to steer this back on topic, so the thing is even people who feel less strongly about not being competetive than me, I find it hard to imagine a positive response to the more aggressive piracy demands being common enough to justify the profession as it stands. How do you propose to get away from 'play along' piracy? I think it's a tricky one.
