Aren’t AFKs supposed to prevent VP loss?

I don’t have a ton of time to play but do enjoy this game. I’m not that good and don’t expect to climb high in the rankings, but I do prefer having something at stake in the game. Half my recent games someone has disconnected on my team and every time I still lose VP, including once when the player literally never left base. I thought this was supposed to be changed. It really seems like Omeda just can’t get out of their own way on the basics, or did I just make this up?