If you buy the Spacer's Choice version of The Outer Worlds does it include the original and its DLC so you can install that if you get bad performance from the new stuff? Or do you have to actually buy the normal version + the spacer's choice upgrade to get that luxury?

Solid question. I was about to ask the same. I'd throw some cash at the shinier bundle if I had the original to fall back on,

Bump! Anyone could answer this?

Think I've at least got info to contribute here, was coming to look for a Obsidian Discord channel.

Afaik, anything that says Spacers Choice (pun intended but true in this case too) is 'private label',
release which was not done with Obsidian's help or input. I.e. it's the publisher trying to cash in,
on an Marketing release.

Also, afaik the only way we can support Obsidian to the fullest and get all content is,
Non-Mandatory version (but imo Season Passes are questionable) or buy the main game,
DLC and Soundtrack separately.

Honestly Obsidian's partly responsible for this confusion, i.e. Pillars of Eternity released in 2015.
It took fully 8 years before the individual DLC went below 50% sale price down to 75%.
They had released a DE and it had gone on sale cheaper than the 2 White March DLC together.
It was just absurd, we who supported/bought the original game for 8 damn years for a decent
price drop.

I came here to find Obsidian's Discord and ask about the Non Mandatory game pass version.