Zoners - why they do exist?

[pillow]

Let's close this topic. It was wrong to bring "logic" and "Discovery" into one, again.

Actually I don't think you should ask for the thread to be closed so soon.
Pressing on the subject is a good idea. Zoners should be exterminated for the reasons you've talked about above: Shelter criminals - get stomped on by the nearby authorities. Makes zero sense for them to exist.

However, at the same time, the Zoner 'faction' is only used as a white base in the middle of a red, hostile space.

Say you're some guy with some ID hostile to everything in the Omicrons: Core, Order, Corsairs, Outcasts - whatever.
Unless your RP style says so, it's very hard to make the Zoners angry with you. And here you go - you have a few bases to dock while in the Omicrons.

From an RP standpoint, the Zoners shouldn't be allowed to exist anywhere.
From a gameplay standpoint, Zoners should stay where they are. Uh, only their bases.