Here is something I never wondered about until today. Do your privateers feed your trade % for the purpose of the "Trading In" bonus? I wish it did, but suspect it simply gets awarded to the "Pirate" nation in the trade node even if you have trade in the node. Having privateers boost your chances of getting the "Trading In" bonus earlier might be a good way to add a little more flavor to the naval and trade game. Rather than seeking maximum cash return from protecting trade, shifting to privateers in otherwise out of reach nodes when the trading bonus is within reach might make sense.