I can't comment on MHW since my recent second attempt to get into it failed before it really even got started but I think part of what you're experiencing is also the nature of "helpful" internet commentary.It's really fucking annoying when games put out expansions that make the base game incredibly hard to get into. I had the same experience with Cyberpunk, and now I'm having it with Monster Hunter World. MHW is very much a "look shit up online" kinda game, but 80% of what you find online is only relevant to the Iceborne expansion.
Like it seems most Elden Ring tips are "get the Moonveil Katana" or "level up [whatever stat] to 60" which is about as helpful as telling someone interested in learning chess to just "think 10 moves ahead."
Or Witcher 3 tips which tell you to get an ability from a DLC expansion designed to be played after you beat the whole (notoriously very long) game.