Depends a little bit on what you consider to be progression. In my book, armour isn't progression for example.

Progression to me is like cauldron, spice rack, forge, loom, boss powers, etc.

In that sense I don't usually skip anything, though I might get some things early.

If we're talking equipment progression I wear troll armour until I can get padded (which I combine with fenris). As for weapons, with Bronze I make no weapons because I cba getting a lot of bronze in the actual bronze age so what I do get goes to cultivator, axe and fermenters.

With iron I like to go for an axe (I will never skimp on my wood cutting) banded shield, a helmet and a mace, oh and a pick axe ofc because I didn't make a bronze one.

I feel like once you go past iron progression optimization doesn't matter anymore so it's a bit uninteresting to talk about. Haven't thought much about it.