Getting to Level 50 (a few questions)

[Waeksyn]

If you are serious at all about crafting, you will need all of the DoH jobs at level 50. If you want to focus on one or two of them, then you don't necessarily need to gear all 8 at 3 star level. The best way of doing this, IMO, is to level all of the jobs at the same time (including DoL). You'll find that requirements for leves on one job will often need crafted materials made by other jobs at a level just below the one you're working on. Same for DoL mats. When you do them all at the same time, you also are able to easily HQ craft all of your gear as you move up (you'll need to use HQ mats - which you gather or craft yourself). When you clear a level across all jobs, you make new gear and convert the old gear, sell (or use) the materia and move on.

Progression through DoH and DoL is really dependent on HQ materials and final crafted item. If you are leveling DoL at the same time, you gather your HQ mats and sell the NQ ones. Same for farming mob drops. This creates positive cash flow and you'll find your wallet growing fatter as you progress.

Make no mistake, though, the process is not quick. If you spend your DF queuing wait times out gathering or farming, it's amazing how much you can accomplish. SB'ing while in dungeons where your performance won't suffer or while farming is also a good idea. The gil you make there can help accelerate the process.

Shinzoku is right that a high level crafter can HQ any (non-starred) item 100% of the time with all NQ materials and without using food.