I mean, when I started using Linux I also tried to avoid the CLI, and I was successful at that with Mint for quite a while. Actually, updating Mint in GUI is faster. I didn't find a way to enable parallel downloads for apt like for pacman, but the GUI does just that.

Very much possible nowdays. I haven't even switched from Windows, I got a first computer, didn't know the difference between Linux Mint and Windows, but I found Mint easier to use. Windows confused me with separate settings and control panel, and then some guide asking me to do woodoo in scary looking registry editor...