So, in order to transfer from the 3DS, you originally have to start the game from the Wii U first?
No, you have to download the transfer tool from the eShop.
Ultimate has been nerfed to hell and back, you barely take damage anymore. It's a waste of time to try and make armor from every single monster you fight. There are a LOT of missions to get through and repeating the early ones over and over again for materials that will quickly become obsolete will burn you out faster. Save your mats until you're having trouble finishing a quest, then just make the highest defense rank of what you have lying around and keep going.
Definitely work on improving your weapon, though. Look up the trees online so you don't dead end on a useless weapon and waste materials.
Village solo stuff is a tier below the guild stuff from the start. Everything has less health and does less damage.
The guild stuff should really be done in multiplayer almost exclusively. The monsters have the same amount of health whether there are two or four hunters in the room, so playing with more people just makes everything go that much faster.