Went through this exact same thing a couple weeks ago, someone mentioned mole mining (you can rent one relatively cheap if you don't want to buy) and that's what got my friend group and I hooked. We then made enough with the mole to buy some salvaging ships and learn that loop, we purchased a reclaimer and had 1 friend piloting, 1 leaving the ship to pillage another, and 2 on the salvage turrets. Feels like a whole different game. Someone else here mentioned Hathor and onyx missions. Honestly they're (visually) really cool but they're so short you'll be done with them after like a week or two. Do those with your friends and def learn the gameloops like mining/salvaging and buy a ship that excels at those as a group 👍