well, auto takeoff will get ya airborne...I use it because I'm lazy.
Shatzi is outstanding for helping people. either in the MA (main arena) or one on one in the TA (training arena), although I've never asked her to help my sorry ass.
And like I say before, missions help out with the questions of , "well, now that I'm up...where do I go? What do I do?"
And your concept of AFK is correct. I sometimes think it's the only way I get kills.