They are useful for storing stuff, can create and concentrate fun activity, they let you build special gear, and they let you build something into the game universe that is "larger" than a ship, which can add to the immersion and your (and other peoples) motivation to play.
Unappealing part:
Unfortunately in discoGC there are several factors that ruin the existing potential of the pob plugin, namely:
- "local chiefs" such as house governments, pirate warlords, or similar "powermonger" type people who misuse their power and POB vulnerabilities to push others around and block their contributions to the game world, mostly because they see them as rivals for "being the most importantest" in "their" area
- admins and devs who are incapable of creating rules (and mechanics, but rules would already be enough) that assist players in building POBs in ways that enhance the game instead of creating aesthetically unappealing "spam" in weird and counter-productive places
