The NFZ is a role play device. Is that hard to understand?
The NFZ was changed for a combination of in role play and out of role play reasons. The heart of the change is that the new NFZ fits in line with what Zoners are. We don't care if you shoot each other, so long as you don't shoot us. Sure, you can chalk it up to laziness if you want, I don't see any of the ones that make that claim role playing the administrator of a Zoner Freeport, so your comment only shows you are being an ass.
As for beefing up the defenses on Freeports, it was requested in the past and shot down. The NFZ is a player made role play device. It is up to the players to enforce it, not the developers.
@ Kharon
Your first point is moot. Per the old laws, the NFZ wasn't a meeting place for people, you either docked or you left. So claiming that could sit in space under the old laws shows your ignorance of Zoner politics, lore, and role play. Not to mention that, under either version of the NFZ there is and was always a chance of you being shot up.
Your second point makes no sense, neither does your second point.
@ Attacking a Zoner anywhere can get you FR5'd.
Please give an example of where someone was FR5'd for attacking/pirating a Zoner outside of a NFZ. Attacking/pirating a Zoner won't get you FR5'd unless you do it enough to make yourself appear a threat to the majority of the Zoner community. Notice how the factions take care of their issues regarding individuals? You pirate OSI? One of two things happen, we live with it or we bounty you. I believe the TAZ and the Omicroners have very similar methods.
We do not FR5 you for merely pirating/attacking us, but the server administrators expect you to act in accordance with your actions. That means you can't pirate or kill a Zoner and then dock to a Zoner base. We will however use FR5 if you violate the NFZ as it shows you have no regard for Zoner law, which means you aren't welcome on our bases at all.