If it's possible, I think a no-pirates mod would be pretty popular, especially with newbs and more casual players.

As a vet of RTS games, and a newb to Sins, I thus far have found the pirates to be the worst part of the game. I think they make the game less fun, and for me, they reduce interest in the game. I want to play to compete with other empires that play by the same rules I'm forced to follow; not some omnipotent pirate race with insta-fleet technology. I doubt I'm the only one who feels that way.

I just got done playing a game for several hours, which involved me and the pirates battling maybe a dozen times, while the AI empire didn't seem to do anything except place bounty on me, and scout my planets. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so nearly impossible to eliminate the pirates, but it seems like they just respawn their fleets soon after you kill them. I attacked them with 4 upgraded (1 at max level) capital ships and 50 frigates, and the pirates just keep spawning new fleets whenever I deplete their forces too much.