Get comfortable and confident with the major scale, even if you’re not ready to use it to play songs. Knowing this scale and its interval structure is foundational and will form an understanding of how chords are built and learning other more advanced stuff down the road.
Also recommend learning the minor scale and the blues scale and get to the point where you instantly hear the difference between all three scales. Good too for developing your ear and hand strength/dexterity.
Yeah, the major scale is important for all the reasons you said. The major scale is also the back bone of western music and is always important.