They fetch basics early or keep removal ready
Anti-go-wide tech specifically punishes tokens: Massacre Wurm and Meathook Massacre drain on wipe, Echoing Truth clears an entire swarm of same-named tokens for two mana (the bounced tokens cease to exist), Ratchet Bomb and Pernicious Deed scale into a wide answer, and Illness in the Ranks plus Curse of Death's Hold neutralize the engine permanently
What keeps this from a better ranking is the high cost for the commander, and that there are better options in Simic to do similar ramp
may look modest compared to flashier effects, but the deck turns that small resource refund into a much bigger problem once the right cards start stacking together
The visits to the plane of Ixalan gave us a lot of modern pirate options and subsequent set releases have added plenty more swash-buckling, one-eyed, hat-wearing goodies to the seas they roam and villages they plunder
The additional three card mill upon another Lightsworn effect activation is icing on the cake