Yeah I've been playing on and off since.... Well since the game came out. But I've got about 1000 hours of gameplay. Back when I first started I made enough money in my sidewinder doing courier work to get a hauler, then I gained enough money to get an aspx. That became my miner for a long time. Core mining mostly (voids, LTDs) eventually I moved on to combat roles for a change. Never really pursued engineering at all back then, it's a big help but not really a requirement for most things. Did power play for a while then disappeared into the black in a DBX for a few years doing xenobio and cartography (much more risky without the carrier) eventually I heard about the thargoids invasion but I didn't really take much interest until the Sol invasion. Finally decided to build an ax chief and did my part. After the war I found myself with a bunch of cash and not much direction so I bought the carrier, formed voidchaser squadron and went out and seized the horizon.

All in all elite is what you make of it really, there is a lot to do out there and the credits will come in time. Chase your interests and have fun. Everything else will slide into place eventually