I really, really want this to be possible also, but I do not think it is at the moment.
I config'd myself to have no starting money, and sold all my items to a shop (except the lasers/helm) and then marooned myself on the nearest planet to achieve the effect
Was seriously fun, and a good challenge
But yeah, I'd love to have that option.. maybe even a 'spawn new players on random planets' therefore giving everyone the same starting challenge? Or perhaps incorporate that into the 'personal systems' ? Start on a planet in your personal system and have to go from there (as a config option for servers, not default, of course...)