Couple of questions...

[fwolf]

Krenshaw, since you seems to be new here, let me explain to you: this server is hostile to unlawfuls, in any respect. For example: according to server rules, traders cant be attacked by cruisers and battleships, this is applied to any trader, from the most small freighter to the most bigger transport. However, this rule is only enforced upon unlawfuls. Lawfuls with battleships can attack traders when these traders are smugling contraband in their territory and refuse to pay the fine. Unlawfuls cant do the same when pirating.
Since then, unlawful activity is reduced in the server. This includes pirating and smugling. The rules are unfair, and made to satisfy the interests of a group of crying babies who are afraid of some increasing on piracy that can happens in case these rules are not in place. And worse is, these same crying babies complain later that theres no pirate in the server to attack their traders and provide them some fun.
Other thing is about the character switching. According to the rules of engagement, if you dock, you are out of the battle and cant return in, say, one hour. However, the crying babies, when they are flying with their traders and are attacked and pursued by pirates, dock at the first station they find, and then switch to a battleship. And nothing happens. If the pirate do the same and switch to a battleship, he is accused of pirating with a battleship, and then the crying baby says he took a screenshot of the pirate switching ships, that this is against rules of engagement and will denounce him to the admins. That is most of the talk in open channels: ooc constantly and not a single bit of roleplaying.
But theres more. Theres a lot of division among the pirates themselves. This is not only about the outcasts vs corsairs thing, which is part of the game, but about personal vendettas, arrogance and exclusivism. A pirate hails other pirate who is of the same affiliation, but this other pirate is part of some club-type clan, and dont hails him in return. Why? Because of arrogance, of a empty, weak ego that needs the construct of "being a elite". And what this leads to? To more division. Hence is common to see lawfuls grouping together against a single pirate, and this pirate will be in a gunboat when at the same time, the lawfuls will be in battleships. Add to this the constant flaming in the forums, with the crying babies trying to pass some new rule to restrain the gameplay of the unlawfuls even more, creating what I call ruleplaying.
So, theres some options: or you will go to the pvp server, or you try another mod, which for me is not a problem, since the large train have more armor than a gunboat. Just compare: 120k of armor for the large train, against 100k of armor for the dragon gunboat. Put the armor upgrades and youll see a large train with more armor than a unarmored cruiser. In my understanding, more cargo in a ship means less armor, not the contrary, but who cares? Good luck to you and your smuggling.