When I go Mining in uninhabited Systems, I always get at least a Wing of Pirate NPCs spawn. Usually a Wing of 3 or 4.
On top of that - should I dare to switch Hotspots with Cargo onboard - an additional Pirate NPC (typically ELITE Anaconda or T10) will spawn in SuperCruise and it'll appear of course in the Asteroid Ring as well should I drop into it.
Even my Mining Cutter now carries a Class 6 Fighter Bay, since I'm down considerably on Weaponized Hardpoints. I need the additional guns.
On top, I've noted that these NPCs apparently all carry Grade 5 LongRange Range 8A Sensors. In the past breaking 8km used to make them give up pursuit. Doesn't work anymore now.
They had no issues following me even from nearly 14km Range.
IMHO : stupid spawn scripts are dumb scripts and need to go.
If there's no NPC Traffic in SuperCruise, there shall be no NPCs - ever - dropping or appearing out of nowhere with clock precision when the Player drops into a random ring, 1500km from a Hotspot center.
It's just nonsense and shows the fake, weak arcade spawn logic of the Game for all to see.