1. THe pirates were certainly there, for a long time. That the nation of Norway, did not have to face it along, and they saved large sums of money and the time and energy of large numbers of their people, which they spent elsewhere, is a real factor.
2. And is still a factor. They prosper in the world made by our force of arms. That is relevant.
3, And it is not the only factor, but if you won't admit the Soviet Union was a real threat, I'm not sure why discussing any other factors would be relevant.
1. Yes, they were there for a long time and they have been gone a longer time. But you will be like that guy and go "have any pirates attacked?" "see, I am keeping us all safe".
2. Did they ask for us to spend more than the next 8 countries combined?
3. Yes, the USSR was a problem, it has been gone for 30 years...move on dude