User blog comment:Dettles/How common is Haki in the New World?/@comment-18.223.1.117-20130421000832

One could argue that people with Logia powers are still rare even in the new world. Hence, the chance of someone having to flight logias is still uncommon. I don't see the need for a pirate to have haki in the new world unless they are really trying to start beef with people out of their strengh     level. Also, as we have seen, a lot of pirates in the new world have run from threats they know they cannot overcome.

TLDR: Brownbeard's crew (and crews like them) most likely did not try to pick fights with logias or people stronger than them in general.