I guess that you are not the only one, and Design team also forgot the Courtier trait this expansion. Take a look at the number of cards printed for it (outside of yojimbo stuff).
And yes, 2F is quite meaningless. But what is worst is his underwhelming 2PH.
And the fact that his invest is too conditional and oddly timed: if you still have a port and a market unbowed after paying him, then his invest is free. But it also means that you are quite advanced in the game, and that money should not be your main issue (or if it is, then odds are you already lost). If you have only one of those, bowed or not, then you are effectively buying a 1GP holding for 2 gold. Not so huge. And if you have none of them... hey ! 2 honor for 5 gold ! What a bargain !
Honestly, I do not see a better scenario for him than Turn 1 JPI-> deep harbor, turn 2 marketplace + Hirota.
And even then, I would rather have Soken or Yashinko in his place, for it would net more gold, more or even honor, and an additional gold source (better if you want to buy attachment and during your dynasty).