I'm not against different styles of activities within the game, but the shooter element provides "forced" player-to-player interaction, whereas most (not all!) base-related stuff is so oriented towards protecting and developing the "investment" that everything else subsides. Besides from that, the roleplay is done on the forum. On the roleplay server we all live off of player-to-player interaction. When logging and encountering other players, forum roleplay has little meaning besides from providing a setting - in-game player-to-player interaction is the bread and butter of Discovery, why else would you log?
Bases are often supplied using oorp or borderline oorp ID's, by silent powersupplyers prone to emotional outbursts and other extremely immersion-breaking stuff. I understand that the bases put them under a lot of stress, but no one is as stubborn as a silent base supplier, respawning again and again because he has to go to that very system with his commodities to supply his investment as he might lose it otherwise. Bases placed close to jumpholes and other key areas to carve out their own little niche of the mod with no regard for lore, atmosphere or even gameplay, denying everyone else the space even when the base operators are not online. I do think we would be better off without POB's, even though some bases do create some positive stuff.
At least PVP'ers or debate-club RP'ers and the other types of activities you describe rely on player-to-player interaction, which in turn makes it meaningful to log for those who wish to roleplay and interact.