I searched the forums trying to find a way to get my joystick to work in WC1/2, but no joy. No changing the program compatibility or anything seems to work.
Windows XP Pro
3 ghz
1536mb ram
Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (Gameport)
Soundblaster Live!
ATI Radeon 9200
Colonels don't usually become ship commanders except under extenuating circumstances. IE the captain is killed or incapacitated and the next senior officer is the CAG for example. (See Blair in WC4 for a similiar example, where he's the highest ranking officer left on the Intrepid.)
As for Navy...
Defunct? No
The Wing Commander RPG is far from defunct, we still hold weekly sessions, in fact tonight and tommorow we will be having them, great fun post WC4.