If you have the dagger, then that's the only new weapon you're gonna get until lev 20 when the grenades unlock. So, you can concentrate on all four of your weapons, and sailing and cannons, until then. At lev 11 it's not too late
Just stop putting skill points into the "damage" options on your weapons. One point in each, then leave it.
Your character will still be gaining nort. with just working your weapons, so you will still get the teleport quests. Those will come in super handy when you start working the pearl quests, as you need to hop from Island to Island to finish many of the pearl quests.
Someone told me to try to keep my weapons as even as possible, and I'm trying. If that means taking my only log on time to just work dagger or doll to get them to match cutlass and pistol, then so be it. I really want to see how this "no pearl quest" method pans out. Who knows, it may be the totally wrong way to go. The only thing I can say so far about it, is that I'm getting much more weapon rep on this pirate than any of my others.
We'll see
Anyone else have some words of wisdom???