Trouble with early TOW2: am I missing something?

I played the last one and I'm very familiar with RPGs in general but I'm finding TOW2 very difficult. I even dropped from Hard to Medium because I keep dying very fast. I can't get off paradise island.

I go to the Vox and I'm killed in one hit! I can't find weapons which kill quickly. I'm crafting armor and mods which are as powerful as I can and it's not enough to not die very quickly. I've moved around my skills, but that's done nothing.

I'm doing the quests as best I can but I can't get to any more now as the paths are all blocked, like the elevator to the south west of the island! I'm very confused as where I'm supposed to go and what I'm supposed to do and if I'm missing something huge I shouldn't be, because I want to just blame the game.

I'm a working adult and have no time for get good dark souls BS or grinding and I'm going to be very disappointing if this is what's needed. I just can't find a way not to die almost instantly in the only areas I haven't progressed past.

I'd appreciate any help. Thanks.