what ever you do buy apart from UEC(credits) can be melted
down to store credit so you can always upgrade

The stretch goals have gone now but I would not be surprised if there is still not a chance of a few minor freebies being given away to backers.

with that in mind I would advise you to register on the RSI website, join the KGB org
and finally buy a 5$ skin that way you will be recorded as a backer. if you then decide to buy a ship package you can convert the skin back to 5$ of store credit to off set the package cost