The rule is primary there to avoid capship users hit cruise every time their huge shield drops and then come back again. (note that BS shields takes ages to take down)
To avoid this problem capships shouldn't use shields (just like in vanilla)..... but then they would be very difficult to fly since the camera would shake all the time.....so Igiss has said no to that....
-----------------------------------
About your trader's experience...well hit cruise and RUN... why on earth would a trader use cruise to run around... when he fears for his life?
Igiss says: Martin, you give them a finger, they bite off your arm.