I'm another one who doesn't bother with pockets, I rarely use them. I also rarely change patterns around apart from using different sleeve lengths and/or necklines to suit my own personal preference. I only read the instructions thoroughly once I make some horrible mistake
or if it's a new-to-me pattern company whose methods I'm not familiar with.
Eons ago I did a City & Guilds course which taught me pattern making and I am also self-taught in alterations for my particular body shape so it's not that I don't have the ability to alter/make my own patterns, it's just having the confidence to do that. However, whatever I make is still poles apart from anything I could struggle into in the retail world so I'm OK with that.