I usually take pride in running away for this very reason, however the implimentation of super long cruise times for Battleships and Cruiser makes them running away difficult, shame the death thing cruisers/BS have doesnt last for a long time, so they can pull a distance away, to a friendly area or something, to aid their RP'd heavy damage.
I stick to my VHF and usually the enemy has the decency to let you leave, and if they dont, you can waste their time plenty. If a VHF dies in a group fight, a friend can RP recovery, and the last man pull out at the end.