Consider how much trouble 2 dozen Skinnys in a dhow can cause, when we have to import SEALS to shoot back.
You do understand the difference between blowing the ship out of the water and rescuing a hostage, right?
How much of a radar return does a fiberglass Boston Whaler have, particularly if it has a low freeboard? Both these systems rely on an ECM signature or radar tracking. Do they still drill with using a Mark 1 eyeball over iron sights? It's a common problem, particularly in hi-tech environments, to have the Heinlein syndrome. There are very few environments that are more high tech than the USN.
"If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a vernier."
I've always wondered if someone has ever worked out a ship board gun director system with image id and tracking, and a low light capability. The Air Force has it, do you suppose they'd share their toy? Time was when the GFC system aboard a ship was the ultimate in high tech. But, when the Black Shoe gunner vanished, so did his systems. Keep it mind, with asymmetrical warfare, the Bad Guy only has to be lucky once.
As an aside, by the time a captain gets permission to open fire from the White House, the threat will have sunk the ship and gone home for supper.
It's tough when giving a weapons free order is contingent on whether a political profit can be made.