You can very easily get what you want without mining because EvE has tons of other content. The issue is that the only content in DU at the moment is mining and industry and now industry is gated to such an extent that new players are quitting and any future players will likely be scared off.
If we had a mission system to earn money, like EvE, or a factional warfare systems, like EvE, or the ability for meaningful PvP, like EvE, or ratting, like EvE, then this industry change wouldn't be such a big deal.
As it stands now, though, it was a terrible idea.