We've actually got two FAQs already:
<a href="http://forum.piratesahoy.net//index.php?showtopic=11386" target="_blank">http://forum.piratesahoy.net//index.php?showtopic=11386</a>
<a href="http://forum.piratesahoy.net//index.php?showtopic=269" target="_blank">http://forum.piratesahoy.net//index.php?showtopic=269</a>
Both pinned, but not recently updated.
If you play Build 14 Alpha 9.5 Patch 1, the tutorial has also been update to include some additional explanations on added stuff.
"do you need 47 weapons in your locker if you have 47 crew"
These weapons are used in the 3D boarding scenes. There's about 10-15 boarders in those scenes so you don't need more blades than that.
"do they use guns if you put them in there"
Yes, they do. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />
"is there any way to make then not follow you everywhere"
Talk to them and choose the "About You" dialog option.
"is there any way to heal them when on land/boarding"
Give them potions; they will use them. Use F2>Character>Exchange or stand in front of them and use Enter>Exchange.
"is there "ideal" stats i should keep an eye out for relative to their positions on the ship"
Right now, the officer type doesn't matter even in the slightest and the three active officers all contribute all their skills.
The exception being the gunner, who automatically restocks the player with ammo upon boarding the ship.
This is an area that we're actually trying to improve upon right now.