Are crafted suits better than store units?

Yes, you should always purchase a suit with a level 3 engine and maximum stats from player crafters. 'Maximum' stats for example are at least seven upgrades in either Pow, Hit, or Def. There is a special 8th upgrade but thats not standard.

If you can't actually afford it, as no new player can, I suggest you look for someone who wouldnt mind giving you a free unit. With this I mean ENGLISH players, its very unwise to go asking the Japanese players for free items lest you end up being their pet. And who wants that? ;P

If you absolutely can't get a crafted unit then I suggest you buy no more then an MS-06 Zaku II from the store to gain money with.

I personally stayed with a tank until I was an Ensign, but hey thats just me.

What unit should I start with?

If you have the money or know someone who is willing to help, the best unit you can start with on land is the MS-06FZ Zaku FZ, unless you want to use marine types which it would then be MSM-04G Juagg. For space the best unit you can start with SHOULD be MS-06R-2P High Mobility Zaku II Prototype.

Regardless of where/which you choose, you should always get it with a C type level 3 engine. C types are balanced perfectly in all engine stats and also increase the skillgain for all skills.

You should also get it upgraded to 'maximum' defense, which would be 007.

Since you can get an extra upgrade to either accuracy or strength, I suggest accuracy for those wanting to use projectile weapons and strength for those wanting to focus more on melee.

Which would be called 017 or 107 respectively.

What do the three mobile suit stats mean?

You have Pow, Hit, and Def.

Power is your overall strength.

Hit is your overall accuracy.

Def, is obviously, unit Defense.

Should I be in space or on the ground?

One or the other. At this point there arent enough skill points to spread to both unless you want it all uneven.

Some benefits of ground are...

1. Thats where most players are (crafters as well).

2. Thats where most events take place.

3. Thats where most PvP takes place as well (PvP is good for raising skills much more quickly, but is exponentionally as hazardous).

Some benefits of space are...

1. Almost no PvP raids, therefore if you aren't ready for it you wont get destroyed in a few seconds.

2. Skill gain is MUCH faster, both against NPC and PC.

3. The items dropped from all destroyed NPC's are much more valuable.

In the end you must decide where you want to be the most.

Why do range weapons do so little damage compared to melee?

No MMORPG is ever realistic, this ones the same. If all the Beam weaponry and such did full damage then it'd be a matter of aiming skill instead of stat growth.

Make no mistake, all projectile weapons will do insane damage when you have leveled it to near its highest point. The same can be said for melee, however you can't always melee. Its wise to have high stats in both, or you will end up regretting it when you get into a ranged fight (Which almost every event battle is). 

What is the maximum amount of skill points you get?

800.

Can you change skill levels if you no longer want a skill?

Yes, but only after you reach 800 points total.

What is the maximum amount of status points you get?

Entirely unknown, its possible that its unlimited.

Do skills/stats increase faster in PvP or PvE?

They go up much more quickly in PvP. Which is one of the reasons the Japanese players love to PvP constantly.

If you wanted to get MAXIMUM skillgain you would need a unit with a C engine, in space, during PvP.

-Sir Ezhno Lothair Morreaux, More to come soon.