With regard to Shawk, I certainly wouldn't call him timid, I'd call him a good shot. He does fight smart and doesn't appear to dive into the middle of a situation where he doesn't have the ability to disengage. Some would call this timid, I don't and he certainly does have skills.
Look at any "successful" pilot's percentages and you can usually spot a factor that's outstanding. In his case it appears to be his shooting where his hit percentage is consistently in the mid to high teens. That's outstanding. He also likes the cannon (typically with a C-Hog attached). Combine gunnery skills with effective guns and a smart fighting style and you earn a good score.
Note that I said "earn". Just because he doesn't fight the way you'd necessarily fight you still have to respect his skills. There is a lot to be said for fangs-out furball flying but that doesn't make it "better" or more legit than other forms.
Mace