I find trading in convoys (with an escort or other traders) to be slower than trading alone, so it is actually better to pay the pirate if it saves you time which leaves more time to make more money... Unless the pirate charges more than the escort would charge.
Quote:Hah. I run a merc company and I have no idea how much escorts generally snag. Mostly because sitting around looking for escort work is bad business.
Do you? Do you get a lot of business? I -never -see escorts on anyone, only big trading factions (like Convoy, or USI...) seem to feel to hire them.