I have been thinking about this issue for some time. Well it's an issue in my point of view anyway and its bugging me silly!
Smuggling. Aka the dark side of trading.
Lets be more specific and assume its a freelancer here that smuggles/trades.
What my problem is the punishment that can happen to smugglers: FR5ing.
Thesis:
The possibility for FR5ing smugglers kills activity and makes it so that smugglers will avoid all contact with anyone to reach their goal. This will inadvertently effect all other factions associated with the smuggler to possible negative ways, making other players bored as hell.
Argument:
1) Activity interaction drop.
Smugglers that know there is a chance that they will be FR5ed by a ship that is worth 5 times more than the cargo they are carrying will not want to take chances with meeting anyone. ANYONE. There is always the possibility that someone will snitch and then you get punished for playing the game. I can speak for myself and a few others at least that I enjoy the interaction between cops and stuff from time to time. I don't care a lot if i get my stuff dropped or not or pay a fine. What I do care is an FR5 placed on me because I smuggled. Why should I let that happen then and I might rather just make sure i meet no one on my journey?
2) Alt-tab above plain trading.
Plain and simple really. Go above/below lanes and cruise the entire way. Don't use the lanes or gates but rather JHs. You know you wont find anyone so why not just alt-tab too for the kick of it.
But here is the thing... its an RP server.
3) The balance between Trader vs Pirate & Smuggler vs Cop is non-existant when it comes to FR5.
A pirate vs a trader can have the trader dock at the nearest station with no concequence and then they can undock at any time they want and continue trading. Almost every stop on a lane is a base to dock at.
What do smugglers have vs cops? Pretty much nothing and when you DO dock then you get punished for being successful in running away and saving your life. HELL there were cops i saw that all they wanted was to shoot. If you in RP try to save your own life that is still punishable?
Let me get one thing straight. Cops can have FR5 and take revenge on a successful smuggler but pirates just have to suck it up that they lost a trader?
Really?
4) Other faction activity drops.
With smugglers avoiding any confrontations this means that LPI will get bored for example and just look around for things to do and find little. Do we see LPI log? Rarely. My opinion at least.
But how about if there is no risk of FR5? I for one would LOVE to have a cop chase, or a challenge of some sort with a cop! The adrenalin rush is great! For me AND for the cop! But if there is a system where the cop can just take revenge because he didn't shoot you down and you had your fun in running away then that is ok?
Solution:
1) Insert rule for docking of smuggler to be like a kill.
Very easy. Smugglers that dock once they are caught cannot exit back to space just like a normal death. This will make the player think twice before docking.
2) An OORP agreement.
Agree OORP to not FR5 and to have interactions and have fun!
I would totally do this. Cop chases and what not! I could get fined, drop my cargo... hell even RP arrested and even a court case! But why would you FR5 me if I want fun for both parties?