EVE New Citizens Q&A

The main thing you do High-sec relic and data sites for is practice before you move on to lowsec and nullsec, where the sites are actually worth something.

So definitely try them out in highsec. Practice your scanning and train up astronomics skills. But once you get cloaking trained, you may want to try relocating to a quiet and ignored corner of low security space to run relic and data sites. The payout is much better there. You might have some trouble with the mini-game however if you haven't trained for Tech 2 relic/data analyzers. Some implants and rigs can help with this problem.

There's nothing wrong with using a Tech 1 exploration ship in lowsec and nullsec. Sure, you can't warp while cloaked like the Tech 2 covops frigates. This makes you more vulnerable, but you can get around it by piloting carefully. And besides, T1 frigates are so dirt-cheap that losing them isn't really a heartbreaking loss. And their cargo bays are better too - which means you can do some bonus stuff like salvaging and scooping abandoned drones and stuff.

Salvage isn't a bad option to train for a new character. But the salvage on combat sites in high sec is going to suck. No money there at all (though again, it's good for practice). You might get better results on the salvage if you manage to find someone running level 4 missions in highsec.

Run internet searches on "Ninja Salvaging" for more on this topic.

In lowsec, you can make a fair amount of money sneaking around in a T1 exploration frigate (again - forget Tech 2 for salvage - the cargo bays aren't large enough) and D-scanning for elite wrecks - which can haves some pretty sweet salvage in them.

Just fit the low slots with warp stabilizers and nanofiber internal frames for getting away from trouble quickly, drop a probe scanner, a cloak, and a salvager on the high slots, and a microwarp, relic/data analyzers (honestly relic sites are better than data usually), and then maybe a few rigs to either make your ship warp faster or make up for deficiencies in your scanning or salvaging or hacking skills and you'll have a nice versatile little ship for flying around dangerous space looking for opportunities at very little cost.