Looks interesting. Just may give them a go... 
Kind of reminds me of Star Trek Online when I was looking at some youtube vids on it, cept that STO came out after Burning Sea. So would that make STO look like Burning Sea? 
STO sucks compared to PotBS IMO, and that's saying a lot because Pirates came out in 2006 IIRC.
A few notes about PotBS, if you enjoy the game I recommend that you subscribe to the premium service for 1 month and then cancel. (It's a monthly fee of $15) As a free account you get limited ship storage space and docking slots which will become a PITA later in the game. If you subscribe for one month you get bumped up to basic account status permanently which grants you more xp along with more slots and stuff and it stays that way even if you don't continue paying.
I play on the Antigua (US) server when I have time (I'm pretty busy right now) but feel free to look me up as Alex Thorland on the British nation. I can usually be found out hunting enemy fleets in my 'Valiant' Third Rate SOL.
http://potbs.wikia.com/wiki/%27Valiant%27_Third_Rate If I'm on I'll try and help you out a little bit or answer any questions you might have. Just note that once you pick a side (Pirate, Spanish, French, or British), you're locked on that side until the map resets. So if you go as another nation I won't be able to really assist you. However, I do recommend the Pirate side, Pirates get to break all the rules and can capture other sides ships which players work so hard to build.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhc60feL8Nc&feature=player_embedded
