I had been thinking, over the last day, after reading posts about people for and against the idea of safe ports in the game. I had the thought if the map had two types of ports (safe/anything goes) it might strike a good balance. Make two of the current outpost islands a safe harbor but any loot sold there is at a 30-40% tax penalty a.k.a. protection money. The rest of the outpost are open for PvP, thieving and such, but any loot sold there is at full value.
As for what's to keep people from sitting outside the safe harbors waiting to prey on people, extend the safe water out to 100 yards around the outpost. That should be just enough area to make a 'hunter' near that boundry reeeeally work for that kill. It's a less risk to go to a safe port but the cost is higher. Just a thought.
