The problem is, it simply is not true. You can get the bigger ships with combat alone. The income is there. On the other side, you don't need an Anaconda or even a Python for combat and there is no set end game. The end game is what you want it to be. Fully kitting out an Eagle for combat might be my end game or it might be fitting out a Conda for mining. It is whatever you want it to be and you can get there however you want, more so now than ever.
There are missions that pay out just shy of 2 million when you are Elite ranked and they are typically for wanted ships in a higher quantity. Do these in a system thats controlled by a power that has bonuses to bounties and suddenly you a rolling in credits.
Heh first you say "its not true" and then you continue there's no "set endgame" and that you don't "NEED" an Anaconda to fight.
Never had the realization that games are not about NEED? And the end game has been very clearly defined by FD: get to ELITE rank in something or everything and "blaze your own trail in the most awesome ships" we've put together for you. Need? where did that ever come in. You should just be able to use any combat ship and make money. The more expensive the combat ship, the more money you should make from it. Sure is the same way with trading ships.