Different types of weapons and shields

[BlitzSam]

I come from an eve background where different damage & tank types make a big difference. From this, I'd like to ask a few things about their implementation in Discovery as it isn't very obvious to me (as a newbie):

1. How big of a deal is it?
2. Where may I check up on different faction preferences? Do faction ships have specific bonuses for setups? Looks to me like everyone generally has options to mount everything.

In general, has anyone put up a 101 guide to equipment fit in the game? I'm having a tough time navigating the tons of options, and most of the information on the helpcards aren't really helpful.

I'd appreciate any help with this