You pay my pirate; your paying for your life. I'm going to charge 1-3 million depending on what your hauling.
I always prefer payment over killing you for a 50k max share of your cargo (I pilot a bomber).
The more people pay me, the more orderly the transaction process becomes; people over the course of the day being run-happy results in me being trigger happy as a result.
Traders need to accept that trigger happiness on the part of the pirate is generally a function of a trader's increased willingness to run. (This wasn't the case in the diamond/niobium days because credits were so plentiful)
If you play a pirate and trade as well you are most likely properly playing out the pirate trader dynamic; sizing up the pirate (his demands, ship class, experience, distance to station, vigilance, ect) deciding to pay or run (I always run with some kind of RP talk "You'll never catch me outcast scum"). If he catches you while your running surrender and offer him something extra on his starting demand.
If you die, its your fault; if you don't have the cash on hand to pay the pirate because your sending it off to another account that is your fault so don't use it as an excuse not to pay. I want your money, not your life; I'm a pirate, not a terrorist.