I've always viewed them as outlaws by boat, today's pirate isn't quite as glamorous or potentially glamorous as a pirate from our imaginations or fairy tales. They're often doing it out of desperation to make a buck to get-by since their home country doesn't provide them with a means to do so or be very good or effective at it. The haul they get if a pirate raid is successful is more than they'll make in their lifetime, which is why so many risks their lives to achieve this. Keep in mind it's an extremely dangerous environment to put yourself in as you might be backstabbed, used as bait, tipped by choppy waters, attacked by a shark, killed by a misfire of a weapon on the boat due to careless handling of deadly weapons. And this is all before the actual attempt at stealing cargo/crew of a cargo vessel, most vessels today have constant contact with Naval Forces from all over the world and are often armed with personal security contractors armed with AR's, Mounted MG's, Radio's to Near-by Naval Vessels with Cannons, Machine Guns, Attack Choppers, Rapid Response Fighter Jets and Automated Flak Throwing Double Barreled Cannons! Not a Risk am willing to take.