Several questions from a newbie

[KageTokage]

1. The actual quest gameplay in the MSQ don't really change/improve much going into the future, but you're on the verge of where most people would agree ARR gets interesting.

2. IMO, instanced content doesn't really start pick up until the latter portion of the ARR MSQ (That is, after the first credits roll and hitting the level cap).

3. Not that I'm aware of.

4. If you've already registered the standard edition, then no, you can't go back to the free trial.

5. All of the jobs are balanced enough that choice of job is largely not relevant even in difficult endgame content...and MNK is actually one of the best endgame DPS from a meta perspective so someone doesn't know what they're talking about. It is significantly more involved then a lot of other DPS at the lower levels ever since its rework, though, which can be a mixed bag.

6. Most of monk's abilities are tied to being in a certain stance and cannot be used at all if not in that stance (Which makes it distinct from the other melee that can use skills out of order to little benefit). Until it gets Form Shift at 50+ you will always be forced to start off a combo string with bootshine or dragon kick.