Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only engineered NPC imho are the pirate USS and mission targets. The rest is max. A rated.
And sorry, you only lose in PvE if you badly screw up, against another CMDR you can fly the meta and its' still possible to get your rearside handed to you.
Fly a g5 prismatic FdL or a g5 Corvette in PvE and the game becomes a joke difficulty wise. That's because
engineering unbalances the game versus NPCs.
Use gimbals - Eagle problem solved
But to be a bit more serious, People do even complain about totally legit PvP.
Look at the recent HALT/AX threads.
Roleplay? check
Combat versus combat vessel (no unshielded Trader ganking)? check
Still complain threads? check
Because people complain that they can't win the engagement.
Their weapons make no damage against a PvP build, they can disengage without trouble, and still people complain.
Cause they can't win.
disclaimer: just my opinion and educated armchair psychology.