I have a "Why?" sort of question about how damage to shields and engines is worked out.

If I have, say, 10 hull boxes and 2 shields then the 5th shield hit will reduce my shield rating to 1.
However, if I start with 1 shield then it will take 10 shield hits to remove it.

Why doesn't the ship with 1 shield lose it after 5 shield hits?  I get the mathematics of how the damage track is worked out, it is why do you not get reduced to zero shields quicker if you only start with one.

The same with engines (although I can see not having any engines not being that fun).