Lots of opinions... yet the OP is completely correct, and there's no going back from it... The bubble used to be a relatively interesting place.. you were forced into playing in a multitude of different ways and making credits wasn't easy. Rares runs, combat zones, CGs, a bit of pirating.. after quite a long time you're finally maybe buying a bigger ship and realise trading is actually a great way of getting some more rebuy credits..
I might sound too old to this game now (15 weeks playtime approx), but back in the day you had to work for your goals and dreams of larger ships, different ships and the credits to load them out. And now? Everyone and his dog can get the credits they need to go buy a Cutter, Corvette, whatever, in no time using dumb exploits that have, quite frankly. killed the game and made it a pretty dreary place...
I always scan these forums from time to time and see the same old 'i was ganked' but i can tell you for certain that part of the reason for this, certainly from the old school, is that when you see some 'competent' CMDR flying around in a Cutter, he's probably fast-tracked there and it kinda pains those that used to enjoy this game. Call it petty, but there's always gonna still be plenty that will take something away from killing some 'competent' pilot in his shiny Cutter whilst he flounders around not knowing where or what the hell is going on.. and there are also those that are so hacked off with the the direction this game has gone that they're beyond bored and ganking is a backlash at FD themselves.
So, yeah, talk about the exploits for making fast cash anyways you wish, but the reality is that it shoulda been plugged from the off. Yet the damage was done long long ago now, still continues and there's no going back.. dumb FD.