Very normal, the game isn’t the leveling it’s the endgame content. There is so much to speed up leveling it’s a little ridiculous sometimes but it speeds you along to the current xpac and that’s where the meat is.
Gear is random but everything outside of a few items are able to be traded - ask if someone got something you can use, but you’ll very likely out level it quickly. Just soak up what you can as you can.
Heirlooms are best if you got them. They’re easy to get and upgrade and you’ll wear the same set until 50 or 60 or something.
Xpac enchanting is broken by xpac. You don’t have to level classic through current, just the bracket you want. You can go straight to Dragonflight enchanting if you want.
This xpac is some of the most fun I’ve had since wrath. It’s not perfect but it’s very good (IMO).