when the fundamental design goal of a tool is “if you don’t like it, change it, we won’t stop you and we’ll even show you all the knobs and dials”, and the tool has had that ethos for 45 years, there’s a lot to learn.

C-h t RET is a good place to start, and then eintr and the rest of the manuals help too.

Some people find that starter kits are good; i find that they add more confusion.