The only way that I can see this could hurt the game is if it presented a true market economy. If that were true and someone used their financial influence to raise or lower the value of money or items, they could hurt others. Given something very different, where we only expect relatively minor adjustments in prices due to supply and demand, I can't see how this could have any real effect.
Fact is, anyone can buy their way into any ship and if you are grinding from a minimum buy into the game, you'll be grinding and they won't. That is how it is, has always been and will ever be, so why complain? Really, what do you care what someone else flies and how long it took them to get it? If you really want to give yourself to envy, go around whining and wishing you had a bigger dick. That at least makes some sense.