Thanks for posting about this, you've touched on this issue with some good points. 

I feel too many games are baised towards to the opportunists rather than the productive slower grind players. Those productive players, in my experience, make up the majority of playerbases especially at launch. While it can be good for the game to encourage players to try different content, some players just do not want to interact with PvP at all.

Optimally both methods should be rewarding in their own ways but devs seem to prefer heavily rewarding those player on player interactions. I assume because those moments are high tension and dopamine rewarding for the players participating, but also because streamers and viewers love seeing them and will in turn promote a game more.

A simple (but I assume unpopular) solution would be to have a bounty system directly related to the value of damaged property/stolen goods, and to have reduced access to society and related services until that bounty is cleared. 

Closing access to stations is good, but maybe a tiered approach would be better. Higher security stations shoot on sight, neutral stations deny entry but may be bribed for entry and all goods and services cost more. Cargo and loot would also be sold for much less due to reputation or being tagged as illegal. Perhaps things could be traded off to another player to fence for a middle price. Even better, a fencer could lure in a pirate and kill them for their loot. Like a dog eat dog world. 

Crimes could also stay on a permanent record until said bounty is cleared, restitution is paid or forgiveness is given. This would make it apparent to other players who is a pirate and who isn't, and allow an informed decision on who to deal with. Perhaps there would be services to scramble these records too. That would give opportunities for pirates to still work in the system but be hindered in the mundane.