The problem with most modern "how to learn graphics programming" guides is that they over index on "low level GPU programming" and under index on important foundational 3D graphics concepts. Transformations and coordinate systems, model space, world space, view space, clip space, normalized device coordinates, screen space, concepts like parallel vs. perspective projection, viewport and viewport transformation, colors, lighting, materials, reflection, blending, antialiasing, texture mapping, various buffer types, tessellation...

You want to start with OpenGL because the API is organized roughly around these high level concepts. Starting with something like Vulkan means you're dropped straight into hundreds of lines of low level boilerplate setting up VkCommandBuffers and VkRenderPasses and VkPipelines and shaders, and all this GPU programming, and it's all just bewildering if you're used to thinking about things at the high level first, or just want to draw a fucking triangle on the screen.

> The core problem with the modern apis is that they are so incredibly complicated that they will kill any newbie on the spot.

I would agree if by modern you mean DX12 or Vulkan, but WebGPU (and maybe even Metal) are quite decent.