It is worth remembering that having a level in a class is actually a big deal in and of itself in DnD. The vast majority of people in the world never achieve this. They are functionally level 0 with 10s in every stat while we're rocking 12s and 16s. A person with 16 Intelligence is nearly a genius in their own right. A person with 16 strength is like a professional athlete in peak physical condition.
Level 1 isn't a novice. It is someone who has enough competence in their art they can reasonably be expected to take on small groups of goblins, kobolds, and bandits on their own. Something normal people wouldn't be capable of.
