Strong exploding reactors would end fights too quickly and weak ones won't fix the problem. It's still a nice addiction.
The problem is AI strategic and tactical intelligence and part targeting priority. So far it keeps firing until no parts are intact or at certain damage level it disengages. A simple fix won't solve anything it may cause more undesired outcomes. Destroying weapons may solve the primary threat concern but a target ship could still escape. Destroying further engines could expose the ship to other firing ships while doing so. This is a problem even we humans are troubled with.
Since you can't give orders to autonomous AI you can't set priorities like making a distinction between disabling and destroying a ship either. Even if you can this would force you to micro manage and giving power to players playing a mission is undesired, too.
