I've never had money problems, myself. Early on in the game I not only collected crap items to sell, but instead of using fluids all the time I'd just take advantage of the trip back to Pioneer 2 to sell all that crap and use the medical room. At ten Meseta a pop, those guys are getting ripped off (not that we mind). Though they steal all our pocket change nowadays whenever they have to rescue us. Talk about hypocrites. Whatever happened to good will towards others?
And as for leveling, it actually takes more
total experience to reach level 100 than it did on the DC/PC (though the level itself requires less, and to reach level 200 isn't anywhere as high as it was before). The difference is that this version is just a whole lot easier to play especially as a force. They kick some serious ass. Not that all classes can't, but those multi-hit spells can make an extreme mockery of just about any group of critters.