It's weird seeing them hyping up guys like Kuro when they're less than a grain of sand in a desert... dunno how pirates like him obtain success when they'd be fodder to like any other enemy who appeared afterwards. They're nothing in the world of one piece.
Because east blue was shown to be the weakest sea by far. Don Krieg was one of the strongest pirates. It makes sense that Kuro would also be one of the strongest pirates considering that.
It's cool that Zoro and Luffy said that if Usopp didn't act then they'd not try to help him, showing they aren't so benevolent to the point of helping anyone unless they show their worth and stand up.
I might join you guys on this after I finish watching HoFL. Been long enough since I read Alabasta tha it should be practically brand new information to me... if my memory weren't unnecessarily good