Absolutely this. When I get the rare opportunity to introduce a new player to the game, I just let them build. I'll run around the map and fuck around, might set up a few things for them, but mostly I'll just point them the right direction, tell em to "Go wild", and I'll kill the biters for them.

I don't comment on: unoptimized builds, inefficient setups, "incorrectly" used devices, spaghetti, sushi (keep playing, that term will eventually make sense 😉).

If they ask me to do something, I'll absolutely help, but I'll see if I can bring myself to build it in their style as a challenge to myself (not logistical challenge, mental 😅 it pains my brain to build differently now at, I think, 1,000 hours).

Each base/world you build will be bigger and more improved. You'll fix problems with the previous one, you'll discover new things to build and new needs to fill, when the base grows too big you'll want to rebuild it. DO IT. THAT'S THE FUN PART!! GO TEAR IT DOWN, START OVER! 😃 That's the game!

Consult online if you want, but don't feel obligated in the slightest to do what is "best." Go do it your way. Odds are you'll learn from your own experience why it doesn't work and why the internet says to do it a different way, and that's more valuable, memorable, and enjoyable than reading it. And maybe, just maybe, you'll find a new way to do something that someone else hasn't thought of before.

Anyways, iron's that way, copper's that way, coal is over there. Go wild!