Can someone tell me why freeside thugs attack a person with power armor and a missle launcher? I mean, really?

Fallout. Thats all the answers u need. BTW im from Demnark 2

Because they're scripted to.

The Stims.
They make Thugs crazy and somewhat fearless...
That's what too much, Psycho and Jet, will do to a, Wastelander.

The last time I was in Freeside, I got tw@ed over the back of my head with a lead pipe, I was not impressed...
At least, intellectually I wasn't impressed, my head may have been slightly. I can still hear the sound of impact ringing in my ears!