I understand you, I also didn't jump to SS2 when it was released, in fact I left the scene completely for 2 years after my save was corrupted with years of work.
Frankly to have the better first time experience, I recommend doing the quest line and gradually open up to the system. Though I myself didn't want to do that at first. As you will be thrust into so much that you won't be able to handle it. Especially if you start with the HQ prematurely which is very far in the storyline.
Its more like a staged experience which changes with each stage and has different requirements for each. This also entails that free build may not be as free as it was in SS1. You have to think and designate settlements to do different things because to get them to certain levels is time taking.
There is a shortage of plot plans though, largely because the scene is not as vibrant anymore. I remember having over 200 plans for just residential and I made every single one of them in sanctuary to see how they look lol. It hasn't changed much for that but now there are many more types of plots and then mix in the stages too. Essentially 7 plot types, 4 sizes and 3 stages. Beware some stages don't even have a single plan for some combinations.
There is also the issue that all the required information about a plot is not given with plot descriptions so you can't plan your first settlements without leaving compensatory space for future development. That also binds in my advice of sticking with the quest-line. I made sanctuary first with 3x3s in mind which turned out to be a big disappointment as that has the most discrepancies. But that allowed me to freely rework the plans as I saw fit.