[Growler]

RPG worth a few hundred bucks vs. a fully-laden cargo ship worth several million as the least = ransom paid.

As to why there are few armed defenders on a merchie is simple: Insurers hate that idea worse than they hate pirates. Think of it this way: An unarmed crew will resist less and are less likely to put themselves in mortal danger - the pirates are less likely to kill hostages because they know that to do so immediately ups the ante to levels they can't take it to.

On the other hand, an armed crew might get the idea to defend themselves. If the insurers allow this, then any injuries sustained by the crew in defending the insurer's property would then be paid for my the insurer. sounds fair, until you consider that someone who's left unable to care for themselves but not dead would cost the insurer a bucketload of money over the injured's lifetime.

Better to instruct the crews to not resist and await ransom than pay to tube feed poor vegetable Jones because he put up a fight.