Welcome to the game

You will need to be at least level 20 for your chocobo mount and the cost is not gil but Grand Company seals.
It used to be 2000 seals but do believe they lowered that.

This may give you some idea http://www.ffxivguild.com/ffxiv-arr-...-realm-reborn/

Scholars are most definately a good healer and can dps as well, your fairy helps in this regard.
Crafting can seem complex in ffxiv and from patch to patch they do add more recipes. You can craft High Quality for say materia and in turn it makes the rest of the process somewhat easier for whatever the final product it is you are crafting