The ID is really a grey area? That is strange, cause I have to check it before I attack someone.
I suppose the "long range scanner" is not out of roleplay too, right? I know the location of every ship in sirius (exept special systems). I can identify ships that are in my system on the long range scanner, as soon as they enter the system. I can send a message to every ship I see on my long range scanner (exept ships in special systems) without beeing out of character.
Referring to a players level would probably be out of character, correct?