Lucci is an extremely competent assassin, but I would say that is in spite of the many traits he shares with pirates.
The motherfucker has a gigantic ego. He's competitive and prideful, and anything but dispassionate about his job or fighting, especially when he respects the level of his competition.
If or had he decided to rogue, he would have adapted to a life of piracy extremely well.
Had he come up under different circumstances, a life of piracy would've probably made him even stronger.