Starting again really that easy?

[dzero]

(I posted this in KI and then realised the official forums have pretty much killed that place off.)
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So I'm just wondering, is it really that easy to level up early-on now? I've read about people hitting level 30 and level 37 in a day or two. I've started over twice on FFXI already and the whole subjob/Norg fame/rank 5 routine gets REALLY old, but if I can level up that quickly it may be worth doing again.

I'm not the type of person (anymore) who will play this game non-stop, but I will put some time into it and with my exams now over I have too many free hours over summer and I wouldn't mind pouring some of them into FFXI.

I'm only not going back to my old accounts because I want to buy the whole FFXI package from Steam (with that cool lil reraise/regen/movement speed/skill-up hat) and play a hume rather than my taru or elf - I did get pretty bored of running round as my tiny guy with zero HP and my lanky elf; I'd have no complaints with a hume.

I've always been on Asura - is it worth heading back there or should I try somewhere new? I'm mildly interested by Siren due to the whole Besieged thing making them sound pretty active and organised (it -was- Siren, right?).

Any info on easy jobs to start out with would be great too. I'm interested in SAM, mainly because I wouldn't necessarily have to level up NIN straight away - and possibly RDM, but the thought of doing WHM to 37 is just-... *shudder*

Also, any info on active, friendly EU shells who can help with early missions, etc would be great.

Thanks.