:P i hardly trade. I'm not a person who attacks traders much... I just like picking on people who i dislike traders thats all :crazy: . Lol my Phantom char is more for NPC genoside then attacking other people :crazy: . So i don't use the [P] Tag at all...
Well I just run if its a pirate. That is if I'm in a train. Mine being perticularly weak as it has only a lvl 7 Fr. shield, no weapons, and no armor upgrade. Note to all pirates: You want to kill a trader, look for a char named Dab. I might F1 ONLY if a CUFF gets on and I need to go kill him :) . And thats only if the pirate hasn't attacked yet.
1) Demand money before killing, and
2) Kill only if you was refused your money.
As for no-F1 thing, it applies both to traders being engaged, and to pirates being engaged. Not allowed unless some special consequences. Also piracy is sort of not allowed for members of lawful factions (except pirating their enemies, but that's not quite normal piracy).
Rules are far from perfect, I know that, and will change since next Discovery version.