I'm not getting any real clarity on the issue based on what I'm hearing.
If there are so many traders out there now, then there should be plenty of opportunity for pirates to be active, even if piracy isn't as "easy" as it used to be.
I guess the answer is there's no piracy simply because people are choosing not to play pirates. Simple as that. If the only thing keeping you from playing a pirate is for it to be "easier," then...meh. Whoever said piracy is supposed to be easy?
I'd suggest you try to form a little pirate raiding party of 2-3, pick a spot, and go to town on all those traders.
