It sure does. And very much so at that!

CoAS has all sorts of hidden items around, PotC perhaps has perhaps a smaller amount, but they are there and are really very special (albatross, cursed coins, Neptune's Trident, Blade Kit, Long Rifle, Shotgun Easter Egg, etc.).
CoAS has difficult quests and riddles, PotC has a huge variety of different storylines and sidequests along with quite amazing adventure style puzzles.
If I understand correctly, CoAS has different fencing moves which PotC definitely doesn't and never will.
But PotC has all sorts of crazy "special weapons" for you to play with and use as alternate strategies.
CoAS has long sidequests plus one "main quest" for each nation.
PotC has several very different mod-added main quests, along with a bunch of shorter sidequests.
One thing that I am prety sure CoAS doesn't have is "Periods" functionality. Therefore it mixes and matches ships from different time frames.
PotC has the same amount of content (actually, probably more), but has it split into historical time periods which are activated based on a selectable game starting date.
This also changes nation relations, town ownership, governors, soldier models and weapons available. There is even a fully functional steamfrigate in the last time period.
I am personally not overly fussed over historical accuracy either, but if the possibility is there and it doesn't detract from the gameplay, then why not have it?
Both games have got different approaches, but I think in the end they accomplish very similar things.
The only real differences are that CoAS is newer with some improved functionality and was pretty good even from the start.
PotC on the other hand was made great purely through our modding and is still actively being worked on.
Though if I let my biased opinion slip through, I do believe that CoAS is
one good game.
PotC on the other hand has so much varied mod-added content with completely unique different storylines,
gameplay styles such as privateer, navy, pirate, merchant, smuggler (WIP) and six accurate time periods that I reckon it counts as
several good games.
But that is just my opinion. There is no "right" and "wrong" here; it all comes down to personal preference.
Best solution is to try
both games and see which one you like.
And for things that you think could be improved on for PotC, post on our forum and we might be able to do something about it.
