How about increasing the cruise speed of light fighters to 400 or 500? Or thrust speed? Other than the agility there's little reason to fly a light fighter at higher levels. This would provide another reason.
Role-played characters:
daedalus - Liberty Navy
bandersnatch - Ruthless criminal possessed by a (huge) alien
Shredder - Small-time Kusari pirate, looking to join the Blood Dragons
"Bounty Hunters. We don't need that scum." - Admiral Piett