+1 for the skill notification idea. I would love to see it implemented. would add to the imersion as well.
I stoped using autopilot early on after it ran me agound on multiple occasions. I think it would also help to have the area around an island highlighted as a sort of "safezone" or rather "danger zone". so you know that if you set the waypoint within you wont be able to turn without risking hitting the beach. this "safezone" would change in respect of the ship type and speed that is navigating. so it would be relatively large for BBs and shrink with CLs or DDs.
I initialy thought of this as an addition to your navigation curve idea so +1 to that too
p.s.: Im a landluber. dont bash me too hard if my idea is rubish