Someone told me you had to invest in FFIX and get to at least level 35 because that is when the game opens up. Does this seem right? The first few hours of gameplay have really been frustrating - lots of go fetch quests, no combat, running around instanced parts of confusing cities, random quests everywhere that send me on more confusing paths, etc

I've played many MMOs and I've never struggled to enjoy a game like this. Everyone raves about this game and I want to see what is so great. But the intro seems to be taking forever.

I want to roam, fight, see the story, and get the whole experience.

So...do you think level 35 sounds right? Are there aspects of the intro to the game (e.g. the guild quests, the 'earn about town quests) that I can skip?

Thanks for any advice.