Let's just say that the Arc Pylons are not my friend, and I was wrong about us being able to rub up against something to register as their friend. Which seems stupid as heck to me, given the guards can do that! And that they had a conversation mentioning that was a thing they do! It feels weird for there to just be a... a red herring conversation like that.
It's there to explain why they'll hit you but not the guards.

That's also not something they're just gonna have out in the open where anyone can get them.