What the crud.

You are the only that I've heard saying that o.o

I did experiment with the bandits too, as did other people. If I transport bunk beds from Tara on elephant, the same spot that would have had hardened bandits made vets spawn instead. And this is the case from many people too. Try other transport goods and see if the spawns are hardened. From my experience, it is.

But your last sentence is right. To add on, vice versa happens too. The bandits that someone triggered in commerce might aggro you if you're in pursue mode. In addition, they do drop outlaw homestead passes, as long as they're killed by someone in pursue mode.