Returning player kind of lost? I miss crafting!

[Avenger]

You could also level a bit with Ishgard/leves/custom
Deliveries/gc turn ins/crafting role quests/grinding/etc. and then craft your own lv71+ HQ leveling gear.

Regarding skills fortunately it is simple enough to figure out by reading the descriptions. Also the UI now tells you how much progress you will make.

Also basically all the jobs are the same now so you only need to set up one hotbar and copy it.

also: sh2 going away means more progress slots. Innovation is also now 4 slots. Delicate synth and prudent touch are great. Ingenuity/cs basically replaces rapid synth imho and name/brand basically replaces piece by piece. Numbered skills are coalesced into a single skill. Reflect replaces IQ when you get it. Comfort
Zone is gone but better gear and food and medicine makes up for it. Those are just off the top of my head based on my own experience so YMMV - you will probably come up with your own ideas which is what makes it fun.