There are, at least, box backside pictures and one can see what are the spare parts for each set. The comparasion picture of sawfish from 70413 shows how better it is than the old one: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Medex/kocke-klub/Pirates2015/70413/dsc01822.jpg.
Pirate sets were on lego.fr since the 1st of January, but they are still without pictures. I think it wil be possible to order them a few days before the 1st of March, as was the case with the Junior set (that I just got delivered).
By the way, in French 70413 is called plainly "Pirate ship". Obviously, they lacked inspiration here as well :)
Agreed with you. Abstract blocky aspect is actually a nice thing for a toy. That's why I find the new palm-trees quite acceptable. They are more functional than the old ones, since you can attach frogs and stuff on them.
I like pretty much the way you have used the spider web from 70403! Obivously, vacuum cleaners didn't exist yet, so this fat spider could happily hang over the king's throne. :)