This is the problem. The advice you've just given wouldn't look out of place in in a guide for a difficult mid game or end game scenario, but this is the start of the game we're talking about!
To ask this much of players this early in the game is unreasonable no matter how challenging the game is supposed to be and is just bad design.
Those are tips for players who cant bother to do quests correctly, dont know what exploring means, have no notion on how to fight battles and cant progress even if playing on easy.
I did my first playthrough just barging in and starting fights everywhere I could on normal difficulty and there wasnt any need for tactics or preparation at all, just plain basic RPG mechanics understanding.
This game doesnt have a design flaw, unless you consider that the game needs to be designed in order to accomodate any kind of player who doesnt want to play how the game is supposed to be played, a tactical RPG.
Maybe they should add those console cheats like in Pillars or Tyranny for people who want to play the game however they want.
They could also add to easy mode some kind of map pointers to guide players or more tip text on how to play the game for new people.
