[mod edit] people throwing a match can't progress in this fashion while skilled players can spawn camp bad players and sail them out of bounds giving them this "deserter" punishment of no milestone/reputation progress.
It takes longer to sail out of bounds and throw a match than it would to just slow down and let the other ship fill you with holes... Instead you open the door for spawn campers and trolls to take a slower victory but one that makes them troll face their way to victory robbing the other player of their time and progress. And what can the lesser skilled player do? Nothing but stare at the "scuttle your ship" posted on the ferry telling you how hey if you're being harassed just scuttle to get away... Yea well that = a deserter as well. You are contradicting your own system and statements by allowing trolls and people using hacks to not only ruin other peoples fun but prevent any and all progress. Yes I will admit this has rarely been the case in my encounters but I have also gotten up against the same person back to back multiple times trying to use that tactic and it's like ok let him get a few holes in then just run until I sink and not let him board just making it a more drawn out match but at least I get some loss exp this time.