That would be this one right here (screenshot): http://cl.ly/0W11092t3s3p151a273d

Is your gear up to scratch? (i.e. within 3 levels of you; and at least blue or better)

All you want for a primary stat is Aim. Aim, for a Trooper, buffs all of your abilities, including melee/kinetic ones.

Intended. Do a search. There's a dev post somewhere that says it's basically just to add some flavor to PvE questing.

How to use Blitz in PvP: Step 1: Take Blitz off your action bars. Step 2: See step 1.

It's identical. And you basically run at the target and leap at the last second. This means you run through the air when platform hopping. Still kicks ***, though.

You get a gear bag if you choose Commando as your AC.

It is it not obvious which is the (singular) tanking tree?

Absolutely. It's free damage, it's great for kiting, and it's amazing in PvP.

Where are the numbers, then? If "statistically" we're "mediocre", I'd expect you to back that up with some stats. Note that I'm not in favor of either side of the argument. What I am against, however, is players parading their subjective rants as fact.

No issues here on Belsavis. The later planets do get more challenging/throw harder mobs at you; make sure your gear is within 1-2 levels of your class, is all orange w/ blue mods/blue or epic, and that your companion is geared as best they can be. As for the OP: the game gets a bit harder from 30 onwards, which is where a lot of classes (not just Vanguards) complain if they're not geared up/playing at the top of their game. You need to make sure you're interrupting strongs/elites, bunching mobs up for AoE (Harpoon ranged mobs and let the melee ones run to you) and kiting when needed.

PvP set helps.

UI reloads when the galaxy map is open? Ctrl + U + U.

Press Ctrl+U+U when your Galaxy Map is open to reload the UI. Sounds like a UI bug.

The Vanguard is a melee class with a few ranged abilities to open a fight/suck in adds.

If it's the same one I bought, it's the Recon Carbine and it's about 11,500 credits. I still have it now at level 41.

Level 41. Hoth commendation helmet & level 20 PvP chest so I can keep the skirt. The higher level chests don't have it, which is a pain. http://f.cl.ly/items/1F3V2U2e0J160S1t0h1Q/swtor_trooper_helmet_hoth.jpg

They do. You want the <PvP Vendor>, who's next to the other high-level (Centurion, Battlemaster, etc) PvP vendors. Each class has a small group of PvP vendors. You're obviously at the Jedi vendors and not the Trooper ones. Because it's Christmas, I've Googled an image of Carrick Station and have used my mad MS Paint skills (skillz?) to draw a big arrow pointing to where the Trooper vendors are. http://cl.ly/011c1d2p3p1T1E2B1w0B

This. Full Shield Spec is pretty good though, but the two DPS specs are fine too. Later planets are less forgiving (more elites, bigger packs, more things to interrupt, etc) but as long as you keep your gear up to spec then you'll be fine.

Harpoon + Cryo'ing people into fire traps makes my life complete.

Sticky is good for the extra AoE damage/threat on a pack. Explosive Round is useless and costly.

This. I bought a Recon Carbine on Tatooine for 11k credits, swapped out the Cunning mods for Aim mods and put in a Barrel. I just keep upgrading it with commendations; barrels are 7 comms each, and mods/enhancements are 2. Very cheap way to keep your weapon within 2-3 levels of you.

And all the DoT's from your party members/ops members. I don't think HIB usage in a group environment is ever an issue.

Cryo Grenade (or someone else's CC, like Stasis). I find it a bit buggy as to whether it wants to trigger though.

1-6, Q E R T Y F G H X V B + Shift variants of all those keys and Alt if you need them.