I thought Eve was a game about scammers, high-profile betrayal, and not giving away intel etc etc. The ESI key reminds me of IRL employers that demand all applicants submit to a credit check. Relationships need to be built on boundaries - not just one side demanding everything and the other side handing it over.
Of all of the games, I would think that Eve players would be the most hesitant to handing over their access codes to some unknown person. And to Goonswarm? Those guys made a name for themselves scamming and ripping off people who were trying to join them.