As an independent (non-faction aligned) character, I'll at least greet try to just about every character's ship I see in game. And I've had some interesting and very entertaining R/P interactions because of it. One of the best conversations I had recently involved myself, a Red Hessian, some dancing girls at a techno party, Vodka and a box of Cigars... and I still ended up paying him.
However, it seems that often people don't seem to want to be bothered with anything outside of getting their credit/cargo payout or blue message. I noticed that as well when I came back to Disco myself a couple of months ago. And it's my experience that quite a few that do this appear to be faction players.
Don't give up on the R/P, there are players out there who will talk to you in character. The difficult part is trying to find them.