Considering years past, Disney has really worked to give us updates, even if they are "small." Yes, nothing has been quite as huge as the inventory system, but we can't ask for huge updates like that every other month. Disney has a budget to work with, and more specifically, time in with they are able or unable to pull off such stunts. In fact, I'm really quite impressed that they've been able to pop out with this much stuff. And, if you think about it, a lot of this stuff is geared towards the higher level players, even the merchant clothes. Take a look.
-QAR:
High level ship. Flag complete with 3 waves of enemies. Long distance cannon range. Strong hull. Difficult to solo if you are not high level, and it's even difficult then.
-Merchants:
Expensive clothes. The only way you won't get bankrupt is if you're a level 18 that continually goes plundering, or if you're a high level that has had time to build up the money stores.
-Infamy:
More likely than not, there are more high level players doing infamy than lower levels, because the lower levels know that if they are pitted against a high level player, things likely won't fall in their favor. You also need the right skills to really gain high level infamy quickly, so it is also geared towards higher level players. (This argument imo is probably my weakest)
-Bosses:
Level 35? The only high level we had before that was Darkhart and Tim or Tormenta, and I could take out both bosses by myself at level 30 or lower. New, higher level bosses, in odd places no less, bring older and higher players back to places like Cangrejos and Cutthroat, which they probably haven't explored in a while.
-Bounty Hunters:
High level ships, directly attack you, with bombs, firebrand, and some crazy sailing skill. Only target Warships (from what I've heard) and they close off ports as you keep sailing and being attacked by them. DEFINITELY high level targets.
They're giving us exactly what we want; more stuff for high levels. The only thing we really could ask for now that we have been for a while is a new storyline and cap increases.