I agree with you there Jinx, dont give them more offensive powers, merely DEFENSIVE.
Get something to take the shields down... mount some other turrets to do damage to hull, but dont make it too powerfull, just enough to make sure a single pirate will pay dearly if he uses the wrong tactic.
Point is simple.... traders are for making money, not killing every single thing they come across.. thats what a ALL THE OTHER SHIPS are for:)
"War. War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage."
