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Browsing through the Alpha. it seems that monsters and NPCs all have extensive, wordy descriptions, and the same stats as PCs. Monsters also have a table with special actions and NPCs potentially have gear and can perform combat maneuvers like PCs.

This is very rich and nice, but it's also a lot to track. I have yet to run the game, but it seems really difficult to come up with NPCs on the fly, or to run combat without bookmarking the right rulebook pages beforehand, memorizing stats and monster strategies.

Is the game really intended to be that prep-heavy or? Is there a simple way to do it or am I overthinking it?

Browsing through the Alpha. it seems that monsters and NPCs all have extensive, wordy descriptions, and the same stats as PCs. Monsters also have a table with special actions and NPCs potentially have gear and can perform combat maneuvers like PCs.

This is very rich and nice, but it's also a lot to track. I have yet to run the game, but it seems really difficult to come up with NPCs on the fly, or to run combat without bookmarking the right rulebook pages beforehand, memorizing stats and monster strategies.

Is the game really intended to be that prep-heavy or? Is there a simple way to do it or am I overthinking it?

Humanoids can be created very easy in my opinion. They have Attributes and Skills same as PCs, they have Protection and Gear. And if I remember correctly there will be an upgrade to the statistics that you have the Gear bonus, the Armor die and Weapon damage die and traits (like Parry). I think that it's no problem to make a not so important NPC on the fly. Monster is a little bit different. If you want to create a monster you need time. 
For combat, I think that you can make a document out of the info in the PDF so that you have all important stats for a combat. This is something I will make and I make it so for 13th Age. I have good experiences with such preparations.

Browsing through the Alpha. it seems that monsters and NPCs all have extensive, wordy descriptions, and the same stats as PCs. Monsters also have a table with special actions and NPCs potentially have gear and can perform combat maneuvers like PCs.

This is very rich and nice, but it's also a lot to track. I have yet to run the game, but it seems really difficult to come up with NPCs on the fly, or to run combat without bookmarking the right rulebook pages beforehand, memorizing stats and monster strategies.

Is the game really intended to be that prep-heavy or? Is there a simple way to do it or am I overthinking it?

In the alpha you have standard stats that you can use, I have made a NPC-sheet (in Swedish) and written in the stats for the most common foes. If it isn't important that every NPC should be unique I can reuse these easily so for me there has been very little prepping for my two games that I have had. The talents they have can be more of a challenge, but most NPC will have the standard talents so you don't have to memorize everyone.

For the monsters you pretty much only have to keep track of damage and roll a D6 for their actions. Since the PC rarely will battle two different monsters it has been very easy to just flip to the page of the monster and mark their damage on a small note.

TLDR; It may look like lot of prep, but in reality it has been easy for me to do it and I am probably not smarter och better then the average GM.

In my prep, I tend to just jot down the attributes, special moves and weapon stats. I don't like looking up skills, so I just wing it usually. It's actually pretty easy to come up with these stats on the fly. Your players don't even need to know you're doing this.

This probably isn't too everyone's tastes, but I also like to have minimal stats to reference, and I find that I can work out skills for all NPCs / creatures on the fly with some quick thinking.

Yes, NPC stats can be super short in FBL - just four stats on a 1-5 scale and a skill or two and a weapon, that's all you need. Talents etc should be reserved for special NPCs.

Monters do have their monster attack list, but all you need to do is roll a D6 and read aloud, not prep needed at all. The idea behind the monster attacks is that a monster should always be a dangerous and unpredictable encounter, never just wearing down hit points.

Yes, NPC stats can be super short in FBL - just four stats on a 1-5 scale and a skill or two and a weapon, that's all you need. Talents etc should be reserved for special NPCs.

Monters do have their monster attack list, but all you need to do is roll a D6 and read aloud, not prep needed at all. The idea behind the monster attacks is that a monster should always be a dangerous and unpredictable encounter, never just wearing down hit points.

Regarding monster attacks - I must say that when my players thought a troll, that was one of the most entertaining combat scenes that I have played in a whole lot of years. Although the players died, sadly, but it was our first troll. Bonus: I so love that art for the trolls. you can almost touch the smell in it.

Oh, your players don‘t heed your wise words?

„Better to run away and live today so you can runaway and live another day“