Overall, Cutthroats will be faster than Buccaneers.

This isn't anywhere us speccing out details, let alone implementation. I'd expect some major changes before it's a consideration.

Since there is more flaming (if minor, it's still flaming) than smack talk (which can be very amusing), we'll close this out.

You guys can smack talk each other and have national chest pounding. What you can't do is attack each other personally.

Check out the rules:

No Flaming
While debate and discussion are encouraged, we will not tolerate rude or insulting posts, personal attacks or inflammatory posts of any kind.

No Trolling
Posting in a thread for the sole purpose of harassing a user or derailing / hijacking a thread topic is not allowed.

It's pretty easy to tell the difference. If you're insulting the /player/, it's not cool.

Are there any other mid-range or base 50 ships that you (meaning anyone) would like to use but feel their stats aren't good enough?

Some of the economic advantages haven't solidified yet, but they aren't the same as FTs. Two things that are pretty certain: they'll have reduced foreign taxes and they'll start with high faction. Just from those alone, it doesn't give you an advantage to move your existing economy to a new Buccaneer. Buccaneers will likely get access to a selection of merchant ships, and access to global AH (which is the biggest difference).

Your existing character won't be impacting aside from skills. There will be a few skills that are going away, but we're trying to leave all the playstyles currently available intact in the Cutthroat. There won't be as much junk in the way, though (Target Weakness 1, Desperation Fire 1, Maneuver 1, Flog Gunners 1, Stealth 1, Before the Wind 1 and Defense 1 are all gone for sure). Some non-duplicate skills may disappear too, like one or two of the OS buffs (Evade Aggression, Give the Slip, Misdirection) that are somewhat redundant.

Your explanation is correct.

Grease the Wheels doesn't exist in a future build (sometime around 1.4).

These skills are changing some around 1.4.

55%. Same principle applies to the speed multipliers. Specific points get moved by a relative amount.

Only if I can bring my sharks with frickin laser beams.