The few things I just can't grasp is what you do with NPCs how you use them, where you use them.

can you help at all.

NPC's can be used:

Construction
Production
Speech
Mining

NPC Rules Page

You forgot medics and brawlers. Brawlers to fight with and gain small amounts of exp, and medics to heal you afterwards for a small price.

well how do u get them to to do that stuff

Depends on the NPC type. Some you just talk to, others you need to place inside the facility they are needed in, like a factory, then use the options in Building Management. In all cases you must be at their location and they must be assigned to you.

well i have one NPC and i was hoping for some advice to get me started.

What NPC type do you have?

Can NPC pilots actually pilot ships?

Yes ofcourse as far as I know.

No, NPC pilots are - like most other NPCs - at this stage useless.

any ETA on when more will be, "usefull"?

They're added slowly - you might see something like the Mayor or Reporter be implemented in the coming months, but you certainly won't see any Wookiee bodyguards killing enemies for years to come.

darn. totally looking foward to that.

well the NPC that i have is a merchant

well the NPC that i have is a merchant