Actually selecting the language betters alot. I am from Masamune and if you don't have the japanese language selected too you, instead of 5~10 minutes you wait for about an hour or more. Leveling in this game isn't too hard to be frank (it used tobe harder on the launch of 2.0), I don't think there it is mandatory to level everything to 50/60 either. I recently came back 2months ago, I started with only a dragoon at 30, and now I have a few classes at a decent level. I am playing with a language barrier, as I don't speak japanese and masamune is a mostly japanese populated server. I only play 2~3hrs a day due to work but I do my research and full invest my playing time into beneficial things.

So.. just my two cents worth, joining a FC might be good, using your leve quest for your crafts (12hrs = 3 leves iirc) which will be very useful, submitting your provisionary mission for your DOH & DOL.