Is it time that NPCs grew a spine?

[Dusty Lens]

So, there you are, ace Kusarian Naval pilot duking it out with some foul Dragon. Everything's going well, for the last while the shots have been flying thick and it seems like you have him on the rope. Suddenly everyone in local turns red and you find yourself suddenly dodging battleship fire! What in heaven's name is going on?

It would seem that a wayward deb hit Ensign flat skull for the third time during the thirty minute brawl and he declared you an enemy of the state! Forget the Dragon! Kill the Naval pilot!

Or perhaps the passing Bounty Hunter demanded the lone Liberty Rogue pilot in your hold, despite you being a Liberty Navy pilot, and in the middle of a hectic fight you clicked the wrong button at the wrong time, now the Missouri wants you dead.

Etc, etc, etc.

I dunno about everyone else, but part of me is saddened by the ease with which local NPCs will turn on you and part of me is tired by friendlies demanding pilots in my hold mid fight (or at most any time really).

A small rant, but something that's been floating in my mind for the last while.

Perhaps there's some wisdom in the notion of having NPC attitude towards you truly decided by your rep sheet? Sure it'd be somewhat laughable to have fellows shooting down green battleships from begining to end, but somewhat less laughable than everyone and their mother trying to down you because you landed a few bad shots during a thirty minute fight, or a train CD or two.