I've found that it is nearly impossible to get ahead in the early game due to all your NIC going to purchase new extensions, Bots, and equipment.  This will become less relevant one the extensions are bought and you are just skilling up and you have all the bots and equipment you want, so I doubt it will be difficult to gain money later in the game.  But NIC scarcity is very discouraging in the early game, when you are trying to attract new players.
  I'd boost the starting EPs to 25k, and include some more skills at level 1.  I'd also reconsider some of the balance changes as making the game hostile, or at least more difficult, to new players.  If you are worried about NIC inflation, I'd add a price tag to levels 6-10 of the skill tree.  That would drain NIC from more experienced payers without causing problems for the new players.