There is a long history of various packages for new players tweaking the keybindings, with the goal of making the interface a little easier to use.
In the process of updating the keybinding files from DF 0.34 to DF 0.40, I had to compile a list of changes from vanilla keybindings - so I thought I'd also publish them as a suggestion, since I'm already saying I think they're an improvement.
I would also like to see the keys for moving embark regions (not embark area, region) by both one and ten regions made configurable in interface.txt as I think they could be improved by making them 'shift-arrow_keys' and 'ctrl-shift-arrow_keys' respectively.
In the process of updating the keybinding files from DF 0.34 to DF 0.40, I had to compile a list of changes from vanilla keybindings as there were too many changes between versions to simply merge.
Each chunk is how an altered section looks in the new file. The Classic LNP bindings are derived from vanilla, and the PeridexisErrant bindings from those.
Use ctrl-f, copy carefully, and good luck!
##############################
Classic LNP diffs from Vanilla
##############################
* allow zooming with square brackets as well as vanilla mousewheel
* make scrolling in lists more sensible
* use ',/.' as well as vanilla '</>' to change z-level (no need for shift)
[BIND:ZOOM_IN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:]]
[BUTTON:0:5]
[BIND:ZOOM_OUT:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:[]
[BUTTON:0:4]
[BIND:SECONDSCROLL_UP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:-]
[BIND:SECONDSCROLL_DOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:=]
[BIND:SECONDSCROLL_PAGEUP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:_]
[BIND:SECONDSCROLL_PAGEDOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:+]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:,]
[KEY:<]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:.]
[KEY:>]
[BIND:D_ONESTEP:REPEAT_NOT]
[KEY:/]
######################################
PeridexisErrant diffs from Classic LNP
######################################
* mouseclick selects highlighted list entry
* mouse changes z-levels instead of zooming map
* moving embark area intuitive with 'wasd'
* resizing embark area with 'uhmk' like fort constructions
[BIND:SELECT_ALL:REPEAT_NOT]
[BUTTON:0:2]
[SYM:1:Enter]
[SYM:1:Numpad Enter]
[BIND:ZOOM_IN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:0:Rightbracket]
[BIND:ZOOM_OUT:REPEAT_SLOW]
[SYM:0:Leftbracket]
[BIND:CURSOR_UP_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:,]
[KEY:<]
[BUTTON:0:5]
[BIND:CURSOR_DOWN_Z:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:.]
[KEY:>]
[BUTTON:0:4]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_Y_UP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:u]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_Y_DOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:m]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_X_UP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:k]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_X_DOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:h]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_Y_MUP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:w]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_Y_MDOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:s]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_X_MUP:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:d]
[BIND:SETUP_LOCAL_X_MDOWN:REPEAT_SLOW]
[KEY:a]
Doing it this way also allows anyone to edit their own copy, even without just extracting them from the starter pack, which is nice.