You make some interesting points, captain Ted, and they expand the discussion as to why members take photographs of ships in the first place. For me firstly I take them for my own pleasure. If i make a big shipping trip (not many these days), I get as much enjoyment from planning the trip, looking at the photographs when I get back, identifying them, sorting and cataloging them etc, as I do actually taking them. Posting on here, and other places is secondary to those things, my main purpose is not to take photographs specifically to post on here. That's why I'm happy not to post if a better shot from a similar angle by another photographer already exists on here.
However, i do know some members who's main purpose is to take photographs to post on here, and like to see their photograph tally rising, and the number of hits they get. That is their choice, but it's not for me, I wouldn't get much pleasure from that.
I spent many years working in the shipping industry both ashore and afloat, and enjoy the marine environment in general, so I guess, in basic form I more interested in the ship than the photograph, whereas it seems for many members it is the other way around they are more interested in the photograph than the ship, i.e. if they go on a trip they like to take lots of photographs, and are not too interested in the ship in it's own right. Both points of view are equally valid.
An example might be someone taking photographs of a LPG/C carrier, taking several of it passing them, without actually looking at the ship, except through the camera lens, whereas I might just take a couple, to allow me enough time as she's passing to actually look at the ship in detail, perhaps to see what sort of discharge manifold she had. It's what gives you personally enjoyment that counts.