- the listed transport/freighter IS ALLOWED to CD the competition, this doesn't count as an attack afterall and is actually encouraged
-Escorts are a good idea to protect you from the usual problems during smuggling even more so as metagaming can't be avoided, so at least you know a horde of cops /hessians are waiting behind the next jumphole
- As al racers have to be in the group with the judge they are super easy to identify and metagame, which honestly sucks but can't be avoided if you want to stop certain ways of cheating. Thus you have to expect to get caught and attacked along the way (propably at JHs) - be it to police faction members who are happy to find some work or some pirates who dislike you.
You have to play smart to evade metagaming somewhat- be it with bribing, firepower, speed, fighting skills or paying of pirates- adly you can't count on folks not using the chatlist to identify you and your location if they are out to get you
-on escort vs escort combat: while the racers itself are a no no to shoot at i think that scorts can duke it out if they like to - it surely shouldn't happen in Omicron Gamma as it is a bit of a low blow(but perfectly fitting with smugglers!)
To sum it up- be creative to generate the most fun and rp for you and everyone! Play hardball - snitch on the other racers bribe police and prates to stop them and ignore you, whatever..
We want to find the best organized, meanest and most efficient smuggler and party while watching you guys - that is the idea more or less