Proposal
This suggestion is to rework the current bad rep cargo system. The current system basically just lets bad reps print crowns whenever they want. They don’t even have to worry about loss of investment since they don’t pay for their cargo. A better system would be to add new type of cargo only purchasable by bad reps. This would be contraband cargo, which would function similar to regular cargo except for a few differences. Contraband cargo would cost more and sell for more allowing for more risk/reward. Having contraband cargo would increase your notoriety resulting in attacks from the navy during transport. Finally contraband cargo would only be able to be sold in areas with bad rep shipwrights or areas with crime like the slums of Ravenna. Areas like the slums of Ravenna would add a dealer npc that would buy contraband cargo. If a good rep happens to obtain contraband cargo from a bad rep, they will only be able to sell it to the grand navy. Which would give them a finders fee for turning in the illicit goods.
Reason to add/change
This system would help you give more depth to bad rep cargo trading. This would also help to rebalance the current system. This would also make more sense because currently you can just steal unlimited cargo without repercussion. You could say bounty is technically a repercussion but because of deckhands a high bounty is mainly a positive.