I've always found The Crossroads to not be the best opening. If you can get through Greenpath, I think the game will stick with you.

I've finished the main story, but I am too fat fingered to do the white palace to unlock the extra good stuff

I am pulling from memory here

It is a game that rewards curiousity and will make you earn those extra rewards.

I would say always try find the map maker, he whistles when you are nearby and they allow you to start mapping an area when you contact them and buy the map.

Alternatively if you miss them in an area there is a bug lady in the base town that will sell a few things and her husband's exploration maps too, i think you have to at least contact the map maker at least once before she sells I think.

In one on of the houses in the first area you can explore after tutorial has a cricket trapped in it. They provide a few items to save your bug coins for

Bosses seem tough until you get the feel for a fight and then it starts to feel like a dance of sorts.

If you see somewhere but can't get there, make note of it, you will later find something to make it easier and/ or possible to do it.

If you want to really unlock the full game experience learning to nail hop is a good skill to get good at which is where I am fat finger it