Pirate

1. In populated areas (generally the capitals) the AI ships get taken straight away, so of course they are limited. I have never had trouble outside of capitals in finding AI ships on the OS. I don't know what you mean by low density of missions, they spawn within a certain distance of a nearby port. A good method of doing missions is to use two ports that are right next to each other, grab missions and try to get three missions in the same area. Quite often you can get multiple missions right next to each other. 2. Does not make a lot of sense to use time creating tutorials, manuals etc when nothing is set in stone and things are constantly being changed and added to. 3. Do not really know what you are talking about here either. What simple tasks require micro that you want to be easier for PvE? AI is already quite easy to beat once you are past the Basic Cutter. 4. The AI probably isn't effected by smoke, but neither am I when against AI since it is hard to miss at short ranges regardless of how much smoke is in the air. People complaining about the AI turning is quite common for some reason. The AI doesn't have super turning, it uses manual sailing. There are plenty of videos around showing you how to use manual sailing, it is not a difficult task.

How were you constantly getting caught on the OS by Privateers when you are in a Snow? Just sail downwind, by the time the invulnerability timer wears off you should be well in the clear.

One thing about Oak that I don't understand is that it shouldn't be suffering that much of a shortage compared to other woods, but it is. I can buy Fir and Teak by the thousands, lucky to find a port with 100 Oak. I think one of the main problems is that a lot of people are, for some reason or another, using Oak as their wood of choice for Frame Parts, when they really should be using something like Teak or Fir, especially when they are just making Trader's Cutters for XP. I could be wrong, obviously I don't have information on the total production amounts for the different wood types, maybe there is just more Teak and Fir getting produced, which would be a problem, since outside of Frame Parts, Oak is the most used, followed by Fir, but it isn't used to the point of annihilating stocks compared to other woods if people were using Fir and Teak for Frame Parts.

Extra repair could be something to add with specialist crew members/officers. Carpenter can give you an extra repair if you are out of combat, Surgeon can get some injured crew back to work etc etc. No repairs at all makes no sense at all though. If you have holes in your ship you don't just sit there and wait to sink, you patch them up as best as you can.