How do they handle player character death? I was reading a bit and it looks like if you lose your ship (without insurance) you are SOL and have to buy another one - and by the USD pricing of some of the larger ships, it'd probably take years of acquiring in-game currency to get some of the big ones.
Nah. Don't be fooled by today's ship pricing. Remember those prices aren't to purchase the game....they're to back development of the game (and you just happen to get a free copy of the game when it's done).
I've heard a couple of things:
1) when the game goes live people buying it at that time will start without a ship
2) It'll take a few hours of actual game play as a crew member on a multi-crew ship to earn enough money to buy your own ship. But that's all dependent upon your risk. Sign up as a member of a crew going on a risky mission in pirate/vanduul filled space and you're going to make more than being a crew member running cargo in "safe" space. Which makes total sense to me.
But yes, if your ship is destroyed and uninsured you will lose it. But insurance is supposed to be dirt cheap.....only the desperate or destitute would fly without it. I've read people say that the 1,000 UEC (credits) current backers get would cover insurance cost for YEARS....but nothing official is out (that I know of). So who knows.
Regarding character death....if your ship is destroyed your character will take damage. The storyline typically will be you'll be recovered in your space suit and awaken in a hospital near your hangar. You'll have scars. Maybe need prosthetics. It all adds to the story.
Eventually your character will die, but will pass along his/her ships/hangars/stuff to a family member....and with that new character you will take over once again playing. A different character....but with a connection to your past.
It all sounds exciting to me. Hope it all works that way.