I think it's actually a clever and innovative game design. If ED had been designed as "Fortnite in space" it would have shut down by now. If it had been a single-player game it would by now be a niche curiosity, of interest mostly to the 1980s gamers. As it is, though, it appeals to a huge range of diverse players, offering them different game experiences. The result is seen in profits and funding for future development, benefiting all of us.
The downsides are:-
1. It's prone to the "other people are playing wrong" disease. This type of thread is just one example.
2. It's hideously difficult to get/keep working and balance, probably accounting for the caution and slowness of development.
FD have made some bad decisions (e.g. killing piracy by allowing ganking and making mission-specific cargo), but on the whole I think they've done a great job of creating the game and holding it together.
Sure it was good, or not bad...
But since many people always think the PvP interaction is a bad thing look at Fortnite, League of Legends, CS-GO...
They are not only creating further development, look at Riot Games or Epic Gamess, they did go where no man has gone before in terms of creativity and profits.
While all these years companies tend to say PvP is a niche, actually some companies are demostrating that logic is reversed.
PVE is the niche.
And they got billionaire reward for that....
So maybe, ED,
due to actually having 3 modes where you can play solo or with your friends without any PvP interaction, maybe they need to start thinking in getting a better PVP experience ONLY in Open play. Just for profits and so.