PvP is player versus player, shouldn't even need to be said that AI doesn't count here.
As for the random jump in and blast em up, I do feel there should be some long range scanning/sensor option that would allow us to know when and maybe from where someone is jumping towards our position, of course with some scaling power cost. The element of surprise is pretty bloody strong in this universe for sure, perhaps a bit too much.
As with any survival sandbox game, assuming we're all pretending starmade is just any survival sandbox game that doesn't already have both online and offline protection features, really, the reality of your situation is that you're playing with other human beings who may or may not really have the time or effort spare to be considerate of your personal playstyle preference, and they don't really have to, to clarify, they have no contractual obligation to play the game a certain way or not offend any particular in game parties, and the only way to force them to capitulate would be to destroy their in game assets, which would mean doing some PvP yourself that they have no obligation to accept any terms to. Accept its true, realise it's a matter of the -isms and that you literally can't talk the others down in this case, gracefully accept that you cannot change this about other people, move on with your life and indulge in the playstyle you do enjoy instead of screaming into the wind.
There ARE actually servers out there right now that cater to this playstyle, i mean they're dead sure but it's obviously not for a lack of a PvE/RP community, maybe some of you guys should try and revive it a little bit? Probably a lot more proactive than a bunch of us nerds having the same old griefers versus forum-dads argument that's never gone anywhere in the history of multiplayer. Like literally ever.
"The ego says, ‘I shouldn’t have to suffer,’ and that thought makes you suffer so much more. It is a distortion of the truth, which is always paradoxical. The truth is that you need to say yes to suffering before you can transcend it."
Might sound ooc but it's the key to enjoying online video games after that quarter life crises comes along and ruins them.