That sounds like a good strategy for the beginning of the game. Personally, I don't like going to areas before the story tells you to go there unless there is something really good that you can't get later!

If you have a lot of time at the beginning of the game, I believe you can learn some abilities from the early Guardian Forces that allow you to refine very powerful magic like Curaga early on. I use a Gameshark when I play through the game for maximum AP since I don't have the time to play battle after battle...