If you are capable at the very least a full node, and not just for the sake of it, actually verifying your own transactions and mempool.

I would say once you fully grasp what a utxo is then consider heading down the path of lightning, but as always read and watch a lot before you just go full in on a public routing node, consider your use case, and don't dive off the deep end too soon.

Go in stages, I'd say focus on self custody first and foremost.