Honestly how you should spend your time is entirely up to you! It wouldn't hurt to find a linkshell you can do events with, get experience in dungeons etc. You'll learn nice strategies you can apply to other areas of the game which is pretty cool. Yes, drop rates really are balls for things like Darklight, but it's still fun trying! (kinda. . . I tell myself that so I will keep going haha)

As for crafting, crafting I've always found to be very profitable, especially if you level a DoL job alongside them to farm all your mats. CUL is always handy if you use food a lot (who doesn't love cake on demand?), though you might try levelling something like ARM/CRP so you can keep yourself stocked with cobalt arrows.

If you go absolutely nuts on crafting you may burn yourself out, so try to just take it steady, do dungeons and crafting, keep your activities varied otherwise your head may implode.

Have fun!