FWIW, there's a launcher option
/novr - create an additional desktop link (icon) and add the option to the command line like this:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous\EDLaunch.exe" /novr
ED should now start up without the Rift. The only problem is that it will start the game in windowed mode and not fullscreen. Use
Dr. Kaii's EDProfiler (
http://www.drkaii.com/tools/edprofiler/) to switch between several graphics profiles, and there you are. Oh, and this doesn't switch the audio profile, so you may have to switch to a different audio output for 2D.
Actually, I play ED via all possible options - directly via ED Launcher desktop links as above (I use Steam, too, the launcher is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous\), via Steam Library (base game, Horizons, Steam VR, you have to install the latter to use it) or from inside Oculus Home (you can get an Oculus partner key for free from the Frontier Store). The last option means a second 13 GB install and is not necessary, sometimes it's just more convenient to start from Oculus Home. YMMV.
HTH,
[noob]