[HCLars]

There are certain level ranges in the game where crafted gear is going to be more readily available to you than actual upgrade's, especially as a shadow caster. You don't need tailoring for leveling you can easily just bank the mats for the gear you want and tip a 70 tailor to make it for you, most of the good Bop tailoring stuff is at 70 anyway.

Your best bet is probably dual gathering herbalism or mining and skinning. Make sure you train your first aid up, it's always a good thing to have in a pinch. Once you hit the late 60's -70 you can Very Very easily power level your tailoring up to get the Frozen shadoweave gear or what ever you happen to be going for.

As far as Carebear(rp/pve) vs pvp, it's really just a matter of taste. On a pve/rp server you wont have to worry about being ganked/griefed/camped but In My Humble Opinion you loose the experience of avoiding gank specific area's and learning how to avoid/survive in the wild against the enemy faction. It's frustrating at times but it is only a game and you can always log out take a break and come back in 20 minutes and continue what you were doing. I always saw it as a waste of time to level a character i wanted to pvp with on a non-pvp realm, because you can't transfer from rp or pve to pvp. thus causing you to Re-roll another toon(pain).

In summary as long as you are planning ahead for your gear choice's and saving up mats you happen accross you can easily get the tailored goods you want from another player without actually needing to level the profession your self. Pvp>Rp (imho) but thats a matter of opinion and taste specific to each player.