I'm really impressed at the detail this thread has generated! Makes me sorry for my spelling critique at the beginning (I'm not really that bothered by it, I just can't pass up an opportunity to be a smartass).
Without going into detail on the numbers, has anyone considered future tech developments replacing crew? Thinking maintenance robots etc. etc. We know from Privateer that limited automatic repair systems are in existence, and from Righteous Fire do we dare suggest AI/Robotic assistance? (anyone else think Robocop 2 with that thing in the RF intro video?) Maybe I have missed a post about this already...
I know the games (and movie) were shooting for the whole WW2 in space thing, so I understand as part of that theme the idea of many crewmen (sorry, crewpersons) working closely together makes it all the more appealing. I just consider the sparseness of crew in the WC3/4 fmv transition sequences, and compare it to all the documentaries I have seen about warships & submarines.
Pilots as janitors: only when they're bad? Pretty sure Maniac would have done his share of scrubbing...