I think the culture of picking up distress calls could only develop in a setting with galactic tour and trade, but low traffic and only short range communication (like 60s America and hitchhiking). A Space that is too big and empty that if you don't answer the call, no one will; too big and empty for space piracy to make sense (waiting in the middle of nowhere to pounce on nobody). Not a lot of sci-fi is focused on a big and empty space.
I think the culture of picking up distress calls could only develop in a setting with galactic tour and trade, but low traffic and only short range communication (like 60s America and hitchhiking). A Space that is too big and empty that if you don't answer the call, no one will; too big and empty for space piracy to make sense (waiting in the middle of nowhere to pounce on nobody). Not a lot of sci-fi is focused on a big and empty space.