2 cents, incoming...
First - Pirates don't seem to be that big a threat. It doesn't take much to learn to deal with them. They are instead, for many, a source of experience and a backup harrasment tool to be used, wielded, and then destroyed when they are no longer useful.
Second - Some people just don't want to worry about them at all. This is a perfectly valid viewpoint.
Third - A choice that people had in the last patch was removed. There is no way to sugarcoat this, it is very much true. That choice, of a random map with no pirates was there and it isn't now. The fact that a random map still has a pirate base, but an inactive one, while a compromise, is still a step back.
Last - By Hastur, this is only the second patch/update! I guess I don't understand why people freak so much out about this. There are probably reasons why that choice was removed. I assume it wasn't due to a simple oversight. If it was an oversight, I'm sure it will be put back quickly! The developers and Stardock have proven, to me at least, over and over, that they will support the game and listen to people's concerns. No, they don't HAVE to do anything about it and if they choose not to, people can choose to not play the game and I'm sure will kvetch about it...but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Yes, the choice was removed. Why? I don't know. I assume there was a reason. I assume it will be back. Do I know for sure? Nope, but I'm willing to wait to see. Personally, I just use the pirates like the resource they are...and am curious how they are going to evolve, just like every other aspect of the game.