Well, it's monochrome, and there are a lot of characters that have dark brown or black hair, they generally only have 2-3 body types to choose from, and different artists frequently change bust or body shapes to suit personal tastes, anyway, they don't have their usual clothes, or gear, and facial features change too much from artist to artist to really be distinctive unless they had something really obvious like a mole or something, and they don't.
So basically, yes, hats and funny hair styles are generally there to keep different artists from making characters from a series with loads and loads of characters who are all slim teenaged girls distinquishable.
We gotta at least do something about the missing ship equipment from her head.Huh?
What is it, Shimakaze-san?HA-HA-HA-, my overflowing beauty must have overwhelmed you all.OuuuuHuh!?
What the heck are you doing!?Without that thing it becomes seriously impossible to tell just who she is.Just what have you guys been muttering over there?OUFruits StandStop it!
Why are you trying to light my skirt on fire!Uwaaaa...
How mean...
Even though it was crazily expensive...