Don't skip the tutorials. Learn to dock without the autodock. Never fly without a rebuy (the amount to pay to respawn with your previous ship's setup should you die, otherwise you lose everything)!

HOTAS and HOSAS are welcome, they definitely add to the experience. HOSAS is better for combat but HOTAS is really nice too. I'm on a HOTAS myself.

Play co-op! You join someone's ship and shoot out of one of their turrets or fighters.
It's a great way to meet some people to talk with. It's also nice to play on the same team as other people - much of SF seems - whats the word? Not antisocial - imagine like people who walk by when you're eating lunch, and shove you into the bushes for the lulz. So it's nice to find people with a common goal.
More importantly for new players, it can also be a good way of checking out more expensive ships, and it can be a good way of making money - if the person you join can finish the mission.

I am using a Logitech x52 setup at the moment. It is busy game from a control scheme perspective. The flight model is more simulation than arcade so expect complexity.

I will have a look for a few getting started guides if you are interested.