Do Dem units or ones in Assault count as 'enemy that can hurt you'

[J6A]

I've always played that they don't count, except in an assault hex, where they still have a DF value.

That seems like inconsistent logic. In an assault a DEM unit can't initiate an attack... so wouldn't it be just as impotent?

Well, maybe it's splitting hairs, and maybe I'm doing it wrong.  And technically that unit can still hurt if it's assaulted.  Although the DEM unit can't assault it, so maybe I shouldn't do it that way.

Honestly, the number of times I've had only DEM units on both sides is a hex is very rare.