Yes and no.

If what you want is to mine, get a Python.

If what you want is to do something other than mining, and you want to do it in a Cutter or Corvette, the limiting factor is not going to be money (and if it was there are faster ways of getting money), it is the Rep Bump & Grind. And mining doesn't help with the RBG.

E.g. if you are time limited and want an anaconda, the most time efficient way to do it is by community goals. You can get an anaconda in under 24hrs of game play that way. Problem is those 24hrs will be spread over about 6 weeks of CGs. (10-15m per CG with small time investment)

If you have unlimited play time and need an anaconda by a certain calendar date then bounty hunting is the way to go. It has the highest returns and lowest risk of any regular grinding activity.

There are three reasons why bounty hunting is low risk:

• You get to pick the fights, not the NPCs (correspondingly you only pick fights you can win)
• You have backup in the form of your buddies the cops you are kill-stealing from
• You are loaded for bear (space-bear?). It's the difference between riding through downtown Mogadishu on a 50cc scooter, or being in a heavily armoured APC. (Or alternatively - if a cyclist and a car collide the cyclist is going to take the most damage)