The very first map, when I had absolutely no clue, was very interesting in that it was island heavy to the point where the first boss wasn't even on the starting island. Unfortunately I deleted that map and have no record of the seed - rage quit after finally getting a raft together, making it to the first boss island, and promptly getting ganked by a skeleton archer... eh well. Live and learn lol.

As far as looking up maps, you mean with the world gen site/tool? I did a time or two when I got extremely frustrated with my inability to find a Trader - both times it turns out I'd have been just as well off dumping the map or doing without the Trader. Bad part is you can't unsee what it shows you.