Personally I don't think newbies should pay much attention on Trust system in early days. If they are here as newbies to learn, they should firstly focus on forum rules, learning knowledge about Bitcoin, practicing with wallets, addresses. As newbies, I don't think they will abruptly involve in trading with other members.
Personally i think it is important for a newbie to get familiarize with Trust system if he/she wants to be succeed on this platform. You said, it is not and crypto knowledge is important but as the op's intentions are related to succeed on this platform not in crypto sphere. No doubt knowledge of crypto industry is as necassary as water for life, to stay successful on this forum but trust system is also as necassary.
Like, what if the OP didn't know about negative feedback (trust) and fall prey to that scammer who already been tagged as red (negative). So, to be successful and to stay on this platform for longer period of time, it is necassary for everyone to get familiar with trust feedback, trust list and trust depth.