Most players ship tier lists have the Vortex well towards the bottom, and for pretty good reasons. The starting weapons are absolutely superb, with just the teeny tiny problem of having no way of getting through 2 shield layers, and frequently struggling with 1 shield due to the Heavy Ion's slow fire rate and propensity for missing just when you really need a hit ( or, it does hit and the Heavy Laser then misses...
) Getting extra/better weapons is always a priority in any FTL run, but is even more crucial than usual for the Vortex, especially on Normal & Hard. And the starting augment's only value is as instant scrap at the first store you find. Starting with one crewman gimps experience gains and boosts from having manned engines/weapons/shields, and the drones? The AP drone is a creampuff that you're stuck with till you get more crew, and the system repair drones are poor subsitutes for extra crew.
Oh, and you're starting with one engine bar, so you ain't dodging anything, or jumping away from danger anytime soon neither.
It's sorta like what Lt Aldo Raine said in Inglorious Basterds - "You know, playing with the Vortex offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're playing with the Vortex!