Speaking of non-mandatory features: in Alpha 7.3, we also added a very early version of “Crew NPCs”. These merely consist of the NPC deco you already know from the Trading Stations and Civil Settlements - but you can now buy them from a trader and also use them in your blueprints to decorate your bases and capital vessels. Besides that, they are static and only have a basic animation. They will not (yet) react to you and they currently won’t die or fight with you or against others. This is a more global topic and will be addressed in a future major update. Of course, we are eager to read your ideas about NPC Crews right now!