I have no idea what moocow is talking about but I would like this. I think ordering a dropship down to pick up an actor is faster than using said actor to mine for 10 minutes for the same money.

Wasn't that the initial mining method in the first builds?

I don't think so.
I'd have to check or ask someone who knows.

I remember seeing somewhere that in the early builds you had to pick up the gold nuggets and throw them into waiting rockets/dropships. I think it was Grif's D.I.R.T. history lesson.

Yes.

As you mined gold it would automatically collect on you in various denominations as TDs, which you would then have to throw into a rocket (only craft available) and fly back up to tradestar.

Haha, that's exactly what I was trying to say.