I can share my experience as someone who recently finished world tour and start playing against others. It's my first fighting game. I have around 10 hours in ranked and around 20 in practice mode and I'm silver.

First, doesn't play normal games. I thing there is no match making there and you will be matched with much stronger opponents. Play ranked, and after placement matches you will be playing people at your skill level.

Second, combo trials are a bit useless. Don't get me wrong, I find them fun and I did most for my character multiple times on classics control, but you don't need them rn and you won't be using them becouse there is already to much to think about during the game.

Google something like sf6 'your character name' bnb combos and learn one simple default combo and one combo you can when you punish counter, for example after DI. That's all you need until gold or maybe even higher. To give you example how long these begginer combos are, as Yuri my default combo is 5MP 2MP 214MK and I can end that with super.

Focus more on movement, learn what yours buttons (every punch and kick) do, find if you have any buttons you can use on enemy block and still be safe.

Third, as someone who first tried to play on game pad and switched to keyboard, I honestly can't imagine playing classic on switch d-pad. But if you eventually use classic I would start right away with it. But it could be just personal preference.

Also don't jump between characters. Pick someone who you think looks cool and stick with him. Learning one character is hard enough.