so crew mates were planned at some point. and the idea were scrapped, why? because some people had a ton of lag already, so they were never added.
and this is a good reason until you think more. if you said around the sea you will find an abundence of AI filled ships, and when i say an abundence i mean it. and those ships have crew mates, so their spawn rate could be toned down a bit so there won't be that AI filled ships so player ships could occupy that space
i don't know this is just me so tell me if im wrong.