Trying to fly a ship and command a fleet at the same time sounds like a bad idea.
They're not implying that a fleet commander should be piloting at the same time (which he should if he wants to because freedom of choice), they're implying that you should be able to not disappear into a 1x1x1 block when piloting a ship.
For example the person piloting in this image:
Is he sitting on a chair or crawling into a box? In fact, SM should give players the freedom to make their ship how they want, and letting you connect the chair to any computer actually makes 100% of the players happy (You, who doesn't want to sit while piloting, and me who wants to sit while piloting and even that other guy who wants to have the computer in front of the chair).
Also, the StarMade trailer shows a person piloting his ship while sitting. You do the math! :P
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What ship captain wants everyone in the mess hall to be messing with the core of the ship or looking out the front camera? There is most RP immersion in having a chair be a chair.
Technically you can jump on a ship's computer and just touch whatever you want (if the idiot captain gave you access to the bridge).
Sitting is already in the game, I see no need for a dedicated chair block.
I actually hope different chairs appear (I don't mind what type, I just want it to be different) because sitting in front of a table right now is just UGLY. I feel like a 6yo who's peeking over the table.