My opinion about this mod : Very interesting but very hard to play when you're a pirate or a nomad.
Against AIs, you have to know the game by heart if you try to play those. In PBW, you need a normal race as a strong ally to keep alive, I think.
BTW : don't forget the ultimate pirate shipset :
http://sotas.clan.st/pirates
(available on PBW... when PBW works!)