I used to enjoy the excitement of trading, finding a great deal on expensive goods, & sneaking through the enemy back to port & making a nice profit.
Now, the return on resource trading is not there. Stores are empty & stagnant, except in home ports. Free, no-risk cargo has killed resource trading. Too easy & boring.
I used to enjoy building ships.
Now, to have a level playing field, I must belong to a particular clan, or "friend list", which could end anytime on their whim or in-fighting. Clan-based super-ships have ruined independent ship-crafting.
I used to enjoy crafting various items.
Now, I get no crafting XP except ships.
I used to enjoy hunting PvP traders, sinking them, and maybe taking loot. Also, PvP points were gained...well-earned if you attacked a fleet of Indiamen, etc.
Now, I get no PvP credit for killing traders, and the loot is some "no-risk barrel" that I can't use. What's the point?
Trading, ship-building, crafting, and hunting traders were all fun aspects of the game.
Naval action was more fun when it wasn't just about clans & PvP warships. We need to get back to having many ways to have fun.