I've been leveling all of the DoL and DoH classes to 50, and now that I'm almost to 50 with all of them, I'm confused about what I should do to move into HW crafting content.

I've read that you can just go to Ishgard with current gear (not all AF crafting gear, but some HQ level 50 pieces, and not melded) and move ahead. I've also read that it's difficult to make the level 51 items at level 50, and leveling to 51 or 52 with the level 50 1 and 2 star items is a good idea. However, it seems fairly difficult to make even twinthread with my current gear--I can do NQ but no way HQ--so I really have no idea which is better/easier.

Should I try to get HQ AF crafting gear and meld it to go the level 50 1 and 2 star route, or just go on to HW crafting content?

/confused