quests are for things like contribution points, skill points, more inventory slots, while leveling/EXP is basically purely grinding. Combat is extremely fun though, mass grinding more like Xen. Yes PVP is pretty damn fast paced because someone level 55 with +15 gear will probably one/two shot you easily if you're not in that same range.
I'm on EU server Croxus and like Xen101 pretty much always on the Balenos1 channel. The game is great and seriously huge in all aspects. I mean, you can PK people fishing to steal their catch