There is alot of new players from the sale I think and alot dont know to pull out hammer to see holes even though it says boat has holes. At least that is what I tell myself lol. But I dont mind running around doing all that stuff myself. Standing at the top of sails with a scope and a musket is fun too, taking pop shots at ships when close or are boarding my ship is fun too.
And yeah I wish the fort fights happened more too but some complain on the forums about camping at fort to get one because they want the ship fights. The devs say they want it to be a mix of 70% naval battles and 30% fort battles. Myself I like the fort battles and the boarding fights best. The melee combat is horrible but I am getting used to it, I find the pike the best. I think the devs are taking their time making melee better because they dont want to encourage more fights than naval. This game would be great if it had M&B melee.
I found it fun also when I was on a lower populated server and was able to get a 7 man schooner and sail it alone at fast all the time, set speed and direction and then run around loading some cannons, then fly by and enemy pop some shots and sail away fast to repair any damage, pump and reload for another pass. I also like to ram it into a ships broadside and either repair the nose and sail away fast or jump on the enemy ship lol.
Anyhow even with all its problems, I get lag at times, sometimes things stay on my screen like pumping message after I have died and respawned and other stuff I don't regret the $12. Also it helps that I find the game comical like the Monty Python esqe voice commands, watching players get blown off a ship and their body cartwheeling across the water, ships getting picked up by the twisters and spun in circles etc.
I am glad you was able to get it on sale as it has ended now.