As a new Tester I can give a different view of this event since I was there.
Several of us NEW (week or less ) were in a battle trying to learn things like Capturing, Boarding, Aiming, Range of Fire, Different ammos vs Reload times vs Mode (Gunnery/Survive/Saling/Boarding).
While testing Naval action per our Agreed Terms of Alpha, we had several NPC's along with Players join in for the sake of getting FREE EXPERIENCE (Exactly what the poster said when he entered the battle).
We asked him to leave politely SEVERAL times and told him there was a ship (Privateer) that we were trying to capture (And failed, we are still noobs). And players refused to leave while firing at everything that was an enemy to them.
Several players (Lord Vicious, Bismark83 and Revenki) have been super helpful in getting us up to speed, showing us the ropes, and making the game enjoyable, Thank you very much.