I think sequential testing - so, making the player play the game to earn assets is very valuable. Many games don't seem to do this, with developers / testers cheating in ships and scenarios (for example) to test. Certain games I've played recently suggest this was very much the case in their testing, going as far as having a "special" accelerated version of an in-game economy, that sadly did not highlight the numerous bugs in the real economy. Ah well.
Still, the op is right. Maybe as a "reward" for say hours in game, or overal credits earnt, the player could unlock an enhanced game start with a better ship. As the game progresses, starting in different areas would also help testing. I.e. new players start as now, "advanced" players get to start in a more hostile area for example. It would also of course get people into new areas right away, so they get thoroughly stress tested by many players, rather than just the few who make it that far before dieing / a reset / a crash or whatever.
Just a thought, I'd not be surprised if the devs already had something like this planned later in the Premuim or at the start of the main Beta.
Scoob.
