figma learning curve looks  really long (for the design file/wireframing part)... just diving in and messing around doesn't seem to work very well

Is there a good cheat?

lately I've been finding that the newest generation of apps have a very "quiet UX" style where it's not obvious how to do basic things

Blogger at ribbonfarm.com, running summerofprotocols.com, host of /gloom ☀️

Really? 

I treat it like google slides or PowerPoint. 

A creates new artboard (I do 4:3 size)
T for new text 
R for new rectangle

And then just copy paste a lot of images 

It’s all you really need