Yup. Leveling can be approached in several ways. You skip things without trying at your own risk.

Part of the game in this game is finding the most efficient way to level things for yourself/your play style.

IMO it's something that other games made us lose, by always pointing us to one and one path only. Playing FFXIV really made me aware and broke me free from the western MMO conventions. Not saying this is your case, but it was mine.