Folks, it becomes Trial and Error when you make major changes. No matter how many tests you run, the truth only bears out on the Live Server over a bit more time.
And remember they are trying to make the first parts of the game easier for younguns, and that means keeping them from getting mobbed when they run willy-nilly through places and end with a parade of baddies chasing them... (though you have to ADMIT - that's hilarious when you see it, like a Benny Hill sketch.)
I suspect that aggression will be notched up slowly as some have already mentioned it here and on the Grog Blog to Disney's guys.
If you want realism... how about when you attack a Navy guy - all of his nearby buddies come running to help gang you? You want that? Even at sea... if an EITC ship fell under pirate attack, don't you think others would race to its aid? It's a game, folks.
