Hi!
I have played both Elite and Frontier on the Amiga way back then, and settled rather quickly into the seat of my new ships here in Elite: Dangerous.
As for PvP, if I get attacked in Open I will respond in kind, ducking and shooting until the local police arrives to help me.

If there is a war, PvP is fine with me, I can chose to leave and go about my business (licking my financial wounds) but I want to be able to trade not worrying about a fully decked anaconda one-shotting me.
I remember back in one of the old games when I had the largest freighter and installed so many shield I basically rammed anything stupid enough to attack me. For the Thargoids I carried a mass accelerator. I still had plenty of space for fuel and cargo.
Looking forward to seeing you in the group, and perhaps try some of the powerplay features eventually.
/Grimeripe