And I actually manage to outrun and escape from some pirates earlier - I'm pretty sure that was impossible before.
You've always been able to outrun pirates. They'll only chase you so far away from their initial entry point. You will, on the other hand, get pounded while you run, so increased defenses are a must, and you usually have to refuel your screens in mid combat.
That was my default mode for pirates, but I'm glad to see you can bribe them now.