Reborn is in many ways a higher difficulty experience compared to more traditional Pokemon games, though you'll find that if you look hard enough, it provides you with a fair bit more resources than other games, just in creative ways. Never sleep on something because it is generally weak and unpopular, you would be surprised how many would be rejects are juggernauts of destruction early game. Don't feel intimidated by Reborn either, it's a game and games are designed to be beaten, Ame has done a good job balancing everything out to be fair but challenging to make every battle (and I mean every battle) engaging but winnable. Consider gym badges to be keys, each one unlocks a myriad of new items and pokemon to find so you are consistently given opportunity to upgrade. Above all else though, have fun! Because holy shit is this game fun as hell.