seeing as last time I tried to level a class, my dark iron shaman, I gave up around lvl 61, and now my KT druid is already 75, you really can't understate how important races are (I never liked dwarves and dark irons were not different enough for me to care, and I was only doing it because, well I unlocked them). Im actually surprised they dont push more allied races out tbh (zandas and KTs took way too long), its clearly a good way to "prey" on altaholics.
Anyway, I am also flabbergasted at how much I'm liking Boomkin, since it was always one of my least favorite dps specs, dunno why it clicked with me this time but it has. Starsurge is super bursty (in fact im using nature's balance now for more astral power for more star surges instead of the tree ents), spec has zero down times so you can just chain pull, you have self sustain, it's supertanky (and I dont mean bear form), and for the druid itself, instant flight form that can also pick up quest items is super duper broken lol. Oh and I really enjoy the spell effects too. Really enjoying it (I actually mained resto druid near the end of legion but that was a invasion leveling so I never actually leveled it "properly" like now, which I still feel is a imporant step in learning a class, but I digress.
I also deleted my dark iron shaman and made a male KT shaman, not sure if I'll level him straight after we'll see. Male KTs look amazing (even if my druid is female)
edit: completely forgot you can bypass Cataand go straight to Pandaria at 80 much like you can bypass Outlands, cool.