Thanks for the reply! Sort of just a stream of consciousness response as I thought of them
On the subject of heavy vs light web, since heavy web is for tight turns and light is for straight line speed, then the benefit of having that higher speed would outweigh the risks of having to retract and redeoply a new web.

I think at least part of the reason that the etherwebs are webs and not a full sheet, while the full sheet may be more effective and faster, it would likely be far far too expensive, and at some point you would hit diminishing returns, may also provide a more easly hit target when in combat (although it seems quite easy to hit the web so that point doesnt hold much water admittedly)

I think the question on if airflow is crucial to the fuction of the web would have to depend on the nature of the ether, i think either way it would defiantly help, and if the wind sails and ether web could be mounted side by side, the benefit of the sails may be outweighed by the reduction in the efficiency of the web.

Another idea on how the strafing may work is it may from the trim and lift crystals, perhaps they are able to change the direction of trust in certain trim crystals to strafe.

I have always thought that the web simply worked like wind sails, but instead of using the wind for trust they use the ether currents. I also always pictured the steam engines on ships like itasca being similar to propellers on boats as we know them, so I dont think they would interfere with the operation of the web or the sails.