Are all the PCs supposed to be granted the title Free Captain and later Lord? Are each of the PCs supposed to gain a seat on the pirate council?
I have a player who says that if it doesn't specifically say that, they it is the intention of the writers that all players are Free Captains and Pirate Lords.
Even if that was the intention, I won't allow it. I think it's cheap. No other Pirate Lord has a crew of officers that are also captains and lords.