I think they have made it a little too hard to play without paying but I also kinda like the challange that comes with it... though to be honest it's kinda too challanging now. The mission payouts just aren't worth it if you're dying 5-10 time a mission, especially since if you're a rank 66 like me you're losing over 1,000 cryonite per death O.O If it weren't for the fact you could continue to go to starbase and get fixed without paying now you'd have to grind JUST to play the missions. I used to like spending maybe an extra little bit of money if I had any on a member ship... occassionally, but I'm not going to give you my money like this, so i'm just gunna play without paying till I either get bored or fed up of loosing all my cryonite.
I'm not moaning, I'm telling it like it is, so like it or lump it.