Actaully there is a couple of significant WA links to Pirates. I know where the Rabbits, Eels and Roosters names come from historically, they are still crap for marketing. At least Pirates had huge potential for marketing and merchandise, it is unique in Australian sport and does have some historical context for WA.
Your right there was not much wrong with WA Reds (apart from 2 other sports teams called Reds and the smell it still carried from SL), I liked it and was very disappointed we binned it. At least we binned it for something that has some potentail and can be a strength of the new club.