Gameplay can become quite addictive. Time often slips away as you set routes, or discover some undocumented feature that optimizes your colonies' growth. This often disintegrates play into an unsettling race of catch up, rather than colonization and exploitation. Still the 'open' game and several of the scenarios should satisfy a pioneering explorer's yearning for the competition of discovering and colonizing a mini Garden of Eden. Combat or Nonbat Seafaring combat also falls short.
Pirates often jam the seaways.
In fact there is no benefit to getting drawn into sea battles unless the scenario directly requires it. Amassing an army for a invasion Land battles are a little more interesting. Depending on your colony status you can build several different types of units. The units can be deployed in a number of formations, and launching raids can sometimes pay off, if properly planned. It provides a superb colonial experience of building a thriving township.