Coming from JavaScript, Rust's ownership model felt alien. But after building three CLI tools and a WebAssembly module, I can say: the mental model is worth the investment. Start with CLI tools — they're the perfect complexity level for learning. You'll encounter ownership, borrowing, and lifetimes in manageable doses. Skip async Rust initially; it adds complexity that obscures the fundamentals. My recommended path: The Rust Book → Rustlings → build a CLI → then explore web frameworks like Axum.