Having self destruct mechanisms in handed tech might seem good roleplay to others. So why should they be punished by sudden change of rules where that kind of roleplay is null and void?
Let me ask another question: have you ever programmed anything?
How can a gun tell the difference between a target? A target is a target. You pull the trigger and the gun shoots. Now, if programming this kind of system is difficult in a world where everything is easily defined by a magical administration system which clearly identifies every ship by an ID, what would ever make you think it's simple in real life?
I would love to say that it's easy to program an Apache to never shoot at American vehicles transmitting X signal. Unfortunately, that's not possible. Or at least my robotics mentors who work at the airforce base calibrating aircraft landing mechanisms tell me (not the wheels, the pilot mechanisms).
And again, you're offering only an option which has no consequences for the party giving up the guns nor any positives for the Mercenaries. What happens when the RM suddenly offers [FL]Thexter no more jobs, but tells him he can't work for anyone else because they have spies everywhere and they'll make his guns all explode if he does that. Where will he play? How is that fair to him? He has to abandon all that character development to have any fun in the game. It's an entirely selfish system.
If you give guns to someone, you have made a fair RP decision. Both you and the Mercenary are given choices. You can treat him well. You can treat him poorly. He can keep his guns and stay. He can keep his guns and leave. This is fair to everyone in RP. If you give guns to someone and tell him he cannot make a certain RP decision, this is unfair to both sides. I believe unfair RP like that is called powergaming, isn't it?
PS: Thexter, if you don't like me talking about you like this, I can stop and I apologize, but you're such a good example of a Mercenary treated generously, you scallywag (no hard feelings, just business:))! :rtfm:
[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.