Heh, perhaps my idea to read the forward notes at the end is not a good one. (Tangentially, I hate that her endnotes are at the end, though -- I like to read those concurrently and I always forget! I'd prefer if they were either footnotes or at the end of each book.)

But there's also some dynamics stuff about how some of the men with Odysseus are relatives (by marriage in various ways) and sort of grudgingly there, and as it takes longer and longer to get home, and as the things that happen are less and less sensible, they're more and more inclined to try and do things their own way. And, in some cases, to undermine Odysseus's authority in various ways.

Oh yeah, that's true, it even says in-text that Eurylochus is close family.

I don't think Odysseus ever told them not to open the bag of winds OR why, though! This is one case where I think him telling them more information could have helped (although you might argue then that they might have thought he was lying... but in that case whose fault is that, Odysseus??)

I think the answer here is he may have needed a different second in command.

Yeah, that seems like it would have helped!