Why is the community population declining?

[Anaximander]

Personally I'd set the pirate ID to hostile with everything but zoners and junkers to reflect their independent nature and limit or remove cap ships from piracy.

Sure, the day they make Zoners and Freelancers hostile to everything "to reflect their independent nature" Cap ships pirating isn't a problem, you'd be far more screwed against two bombers, only difference is that you might have a chance of getting the feeling of success by knocking out their shields or something insignificant like that.

Besides, indie pirates aren't the problem - players that pirate in a negative or oorp way are. You'll find these players amongst junkers, corsairs, outcasts, rogues and so on too, its foolish to blame an ID and an IFF.