Still 1b without exploiting the game takes MUCH MORE TIME than playing the game fairly.
Precisely why grey market money schemes are so popular. You realize people did the same for that other major time gate of ranks, right?
Perhaps it's more a statement on design issues with the game than anything else. And the fact remains that it takes far less time today to get to 1BCR than it did in the systems available at launch. So, those of us who have been around at since the original betas know all about the slow acquisition of money. It's better today, and if CMDRs are finding ways to move that needle faster--I'll go figure out how they did it and move my needle a bit farther along. Sure, some would like it to take decades to afford a top tier ship--bah, humbug. I don't agree there.
I do like, however, that the flight model absolutely requires a lot of practice. Just because you can afford a top tier ship doesn't mean you can fly it. That is a beautiful thing.