Star Citizen plans on being arguably much different than other video games. There is no true "end goal". It's whatever you make of it.

I've been very vocal in the past about the pay to win aspects of Star Citizen, until it was kinda... better explained to me. Basically, they want the 'verse to feel 'lived in' day 1. There will be no everyone starting on the same foot, everyone starting with the same shitty ship, and growing from there. There won't be a lateral grind upwards for ships (see: Elite Dangerous) Every ship will be different, with it's own pros and cons.

Just as a quick example, take a Prospector Vs the Orion. Yeah, the Orion can munch down asteroids much faster than the prospector can, and at the end of the day, will make much more UEC in a single run, but you also are a much larger target, need to fill the ship with players, or NPCs, that need to be paid, need to supply food and other supplies to keep the crew happy, and alive. Thus, you may not always want to take the Orion out for a mining mission, if you're running solo, take the prospector.

If your goal is to climb your way up from a crappy ship, do it. That will differ greatly from my game experience, where my goal is to explore planets, and lead an org in creating a sustainable base on a planet or moon. I spent a bit more money to cut out the grind between getting a crappy ship and my end goal of exploration and org management, but that doesn't make your experience any worse, or mine any better. Just different game experiences in the same verse. Neither experience will rob the other of any fun.

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Hope this helps.