GUI allows users to navigate and interact with their computer by using a mouse to "point," "click," and "drag" icons and other data around on the screen, instead of typing in commands.
You don't need to have a wireless kernel module loaded if you're on Ethernet LAN. This task is complex and will require a kernel recompilation, which unfortunately is not the easiest task to accomplish.
Using the keyboard more often than a mouse is not just a trend but a productivity hack for people who live on Linux, all day long. Getting things done using the CLI is much more convenient, once you get used to it.