You can switch the direction the lift goes by using the mouse wheel.
Well, yeah the crew limit is another problem and I don't get it why it's been limited to 25 since there isn't any logical reason I can see.
Also I think the water and airtanks should only need something like 0,5 technicans and only 2 of them should require another one but well that are some balancing issues that will be fixed soon I hope.
That's why I can't wait until we get bigger ships and tons of rooms.
I just want to sit down and build those big ships like in Dead Space with an own civilian complex ect. and then cruise through space.
Maybe I should create also a thread "Show your ship" where everyone well... can show his ship. The export plans feature is really neat.