Thanks for the feedback. =)

1)
The point of having their own area is to allow more control for the player, without having to start implementing toggles on Kitchens for example, on how to serve food. If the player wanted to serve their own crew members first before the Kitchen runs out of stock for example.

So that's partly why there is the area thing. We'll consider other tweaks so maybe some more options will be available in the future!

2) Yeah. It's not about being lazy it is just a balancing thing. =) Part of the challenge of the game is to acquire more crew members, but the refugee mechanic counter-acts that by handing a bunch of crew members over in an instant. Effectively removing much of the challenge.

To balance it out we made them need more rest and willing to help to a degree, but not to the extent of a full crew member.