I've been using org mode since 2015 and for a majority of that time I didn't really customize anything besides some more TODO labels. I've changed my layout several times too as I've changed projects or roles. Since it's just text I'd just start with using headings+folding and todos. Even just that is better than a text file. You can pick up more things as you find some friction in your organization process and wonder if there's a different way to do something. I eventually found that tags didn't work much for me but properties were very useful along with a handful of capture templates.

I use, but I don't find that I really need to track daily TODO's most of the time. But when I have lots of small-tasks to manage, I turn back to it. I do think that emacs and org-mode can lend themselves to excessive yak-shaving; but if you get everything working, then maybe you can settle into it. I did use org-mode to track my pathfinder roleplaying character, which worked fine.

I've tried using it for document production, but found it too restrictive. I've not tried it for literate programming, as I still find RStudio and MATLAB better for IDE's for R and MATLAB respectively.

Not if you use it daily. In my experience, I forced myself to use it everyday. And now, I can't work without it.

I tried organizing everything with org-mode, and burned out a bit on it. That however wasn't org-mode's fault, but rather my attempt at "GTDizing" everything.

Now, I still use org-mode for project notes, at work or as hobby, usually (but not forcibly) one file that starts out very freely and gets more levels/organization over time.

The key for me is that I don't have to adhere to some organization, I can also just jot things down without structure or reason. But I may often reach a point where organization sets in beneficially.

I've been keeping a "work log", recording what I've worked on every day for the past 5+ years.

Initially I used markdown, but I recently switched to org-mode. Initially I'd just copy/paste commands and output, and create daily todo-lists for myself.

Now I find I'm learning more and the use is spreading into other areas.

I put together a simple example of my worklog here, in case it is at all inspiring:

https://github.com/skx/org-worklog

I'm not an emacs user, but I've started using orgzly on Android through F-Droid and it's great. The sample notebook is nice, and easy to pick up on.