Since there has been no change to it on Tribble, even though it was commented on by others from the first day, I would guess that it is a deliberate frustration designed to increase private teaming / Fleet grouping.

On Holo, a comparable frustration exists with the PUG AFK / Griefing issue.

Increased teaming and planned group social events translates into better results for Cryptic.

Then again, I could be totally wrong, and there is a "hidden column" that someone forgot to expand, and hasn't gotten back to yet ..