Personally, I do think their whole business model is a mess. I have NO idea how to buy this game. A pass here, a module there, ship upgrades for real money… Ill see when squadron 42 comes out, I hear they are recording fmv's now.
If you want to get started right now then
this is your lowest entry options, either an Aurora or a Mustang starter ship package.
The packages include a hangar for your ship, the Arena Commander (AC) pass so you can single- and multiplayer dogfight immediately, the Squadron 42 single player campaign in episodic format and the Star Citizen MMO (which you will be able to join as soon as it hits BETA so probably some time mid/end 2016).
Any modules that come out in between a purchase you would make now and the game's BETA status will probably be made accessible via separate alpha access passes, so if you want to play the first person shooter module that is due for release soon, then you will either have to wait for it to hit BETA or buy a $5 access pass if you want to join immediately and if they keep up the pricing from the separately sold AC passes (i.e. don't kill me if they ask for $10
).
Everything else in their store is completely optional. You can buy a second/third/as-many-as-you-like packages, (cross-)upgrade your package or buy/add individual standalone ships to existing base packages etc. etc. etc. ... you know, the sky is the limit... why not get the dirt cheap
digital fleet pack for a measly ~$3K or how about the
Warpack for ~$5K, Sir? Too cheap for you? OK. Do not despair... we also got some
Wing Commander for you for the low, low price of ~$10K or why not give all them lowly plebeians the finger by going all out
Completionist for ~$15K?
Well. Or you can just wait for the game to go live and get all of the ships and extras via gameplay (although it will arguably be a little time consuming probably to achieve Completionist status because people who dropped $15K on this game might feel a little disenchanted if the lowlifes collect all the same ships in a couple weeks
).
Anyway, the choice is yours. All you really need if you want to start playing right now is one of the starter packages though.