The difference between a trade ship and a snub is superficial at best and people are just used to them being enshrined as something holy, i.e. cannot attack traders unless there is a demand. You are a vulnerable ship and the mere virtue of you being near a base (of which there are many nearby for lawful traders) does not merit the trader being allowed to come back after having docked thus avoiding the encounter (because docking just works too quickly and the bomber would realistically be able to kill the transport while it is moored anyways). Therefore, this is a welcome and a good change that decreases an unwarranted privilege of trade ships.
