Though it does have some 3rd gen features, it's been getting more and more like WoW on water. The game was far less carebear when it was first underdevelopment, and features like ship durability, and contested-port only pvp worry me.
But, with PotBS, the few superstitious stories are not central to the game. Unlike in PotCO, where you have to go grind on animated flowers, zombies, sea monsters, and crazy voodoo ladies.