A solo clever pirate would not bother with traders with escorts to begin with. If a lone trader manages to dock before getting gunned down that's a testament to the lack of pirating skills not to mention in some cases the proximity to a base/planet that brings into question (inRP) why you so close?
Just because NPC's can't really do anything in game to you, logically in RP there is meant to be enough to maintain order and we all should respect that and not just loiter about because the AI can't react to variables outside it's pre-scripted patrols.
So if we want to be sad, lets be sad for the total disregard to NPC's and how they -can- be outright ignored in places they should have the most strength. . . their bases!