Perhaps there are more pve than pvp players period? That seems to be the case in most online games. Just checked WoW for giggles, and current pop is 1.5 million on pve servers and 800k in pvp severs. Given ED's unique demographics I wouldn't be at all surprised if that discrepancy wasn't even more pronounced.
Maybe there are and regardless they should put in a proper pve open mode and let players decide for themselves. If normal open dies because of it fair enough but at least we'd be able to give it a chance and see without being told to go make a pvp group.