This map is too large for what this game is trying to accomplish. I'm guessing, but I bet at least 80% of the ports see very little to zero traffic. Reducing the size of the map and the number of ports by half might help. In the meantime, of course PvPers go to capitals. To PvP you have to go where players are. But now those areas are off limits leaving PvPers nowhere to go unless they have a large group or disposable ship (Patrol Zone).
This game was founded on the premise of unrestricted open-world PvP. And this game was far better two years ago when it was just that. All of the changes to make PvP inorganically "fair" have made it worse and made it harder to find PvP.
Currently I log on and unless there is a large group going somewhere, I log off. It is not worth my time making long sails to some of the isolated places that I might find PvP that is not protected by Reinforcement Zones and their magical 1st rates.
It seems like a large number of players are playing this game risk free, full-time. While PvPers are out risking their ships trying to find something in a Reinforcement Zone.
Suggestions:
1. Make reinforcement zones much smaller and have realistic and random reinforcements.
2. Don't make player level a factor; otherwise you will incentive players to have low-level alts. It happened in POTBS and we had a glut of lvl 25 traders.
3. Make valuable resources outside of the Reinforcement Zones. Move valuable resources away from capitals.
4. Make high level missions only available away from the capital or outside Reinforcement Zones.
5. Bring back more free towns so players can spread around the map more effectively, especially solo hunters. Relying on RvR to carry the battle on a map this size is not viable. RvR should be over resource control. In POTBS it was usually over deep water ports.
6. Make it instant death for any pirates that stay and Mortimer Town and carebear. They should be ashamed and should not be authorized the Jolly Roger. Same for pirate "traders".
7. Reduce the map size and port number???