So under Obligations it mentions potential Obligations players can take, and that they can (if they want) take a group Obligation, like owing money for a spaceship.

No where does it say you have to take this as an Obligation.

However, on pg 99 under Selecting A Ship it says "As part of their Obligation, each group starts the game with a starship."

What? So players are Forced to take starship as an Obligation or not?

Nothing is forced. It can be used to explain an obligation is the player wishes.

I think it just means that it's optional.

If you want, you can start with a ship that you own outright, or if you stole or 'borrowed' the ship from someone, you can optionally choose to take on some Obligation about it.

Well, you can never have less than 5 Obligation, so maybe that's part of what's being counted.

The base Obligation that every character has (5-20 points, depending on how many PCs there are) is what 'pays' for the starting ship. The description of those Obligations may or may not include a connection of some sort *to* the ship, but that's up to the players.

Pretty soon (AoR) it seems we will be able to take something else besides a Star Ship to begin with. Perhaps a base of operations or a ground vehicle?

I mean, it doesn't really matter. Give them whatever you need to make them have a good story. If the story would be better with them as vagabonds without a ship and they have to steal one, then don't give them one. If the story would be better if they were stormies working from the Death Star, then, well, do it.

From what I've seen AoR has some interesting options.

2 seater Y-Wings (1 per 2 characters, rounded up)

A base of operations (no mobility, but more starting cash...I guess you have to travel as a passenger until you get a ship)

or a Lambda shuttle

For my game, I didn't give my players a ship. They were recruited to an organization that loaned them a ship for a mission. If properly played they'll end up finding a ship that can be repaired and turned into their ship. If they fly off with the loaner, then the organization will put out a rather large bounty (obligation).