You clearly have never played an operative dps before.
Might I point to this thread. Ptech and Operatives are in the middle-high end of dps, Jugg/Sorc/Sin dps seems to be lower
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=664980
You make it sounds like you have to cut you way through the opposing faction to get to the vendor. Which is simply not the case. I've done the HK quest 3 times now. Not a single person bothered to attack me or anyone else because just like everyone else no one wants to start an all out war.