True, but with no cmdr slots and no saves, you can become pretty screwed if the way you behave stuck with you indefinitely or until you redeem yourself. And with so many features left to be added, who knows when you will want to take an entirely different career path.
Long Time I didn't activ write here, but you are 100% right.
For me as Explorer, mostly all Signal Source, no go areas. I don't want to risk weeks of exploration. (Last trip make me 7 Million Cr richer, but as causal Gamer it takes me 6 Weeks).
As Saving not Possible, or have an second Commander to check things out, I will never visit such sites.
I am still Harmless (only one Kill during Training...and it takes me 30 Minutes... I know I am a bad Gunner...

), but I am Ranger in Exploration.(Okay CQC I am Helpless too..

)
Often its very boring, to fly from System to System, escape from Interdiction (still have my CIII, which I buy Feb 2015) when returning to H.O., but this why ED is not a Game (for me), its an Program which allow me to fly across our Galaxy.
The lost of credits/ship/items directly is not the problem ... Insurance cover the most cost. The lost Time is the Problem.
And that also one Reason why I never again play open ... from NPC I can run, and I get via matchmaking not so strong NPC. In Open I will Die in 10 Seconds.