Well, it depends...
By default my login is in a console and I manually startx for a more stable system (swap video card, it breaks, config gets derped by nVidia updates, etc.) and security (graphical processes started by the greeter and the greeter have no privileges before I login, login itself is more secure, etc).
- So if I start my machine after a reboot, troubleshooting is easier.
- I can browse for quick info (troubleshooting, etc.) using links (most sites work -- you can read the text and "figure it out" if things aren't aligned) and get a decent user experience at 1920x1080.
- GNU nano is a very usable text editor at 1080p.
- I can even run mpv in the background with music playing.
- Installing software is easier via the console by far.
- With Debian, I browse software using Synaptic as it's easier and you only get a screenshot if you request one, so it doesn't bog you down with logos, images, etc. like Gnome solutions do on Debian derivs. I keep a root console open in the background and add packages I want to the install list as even Synaptic feels slower (maybe coz I'm not watching it in the CLI, lol).
- On Arch, there's literally no GUI frontend that's "pure". Pamac et al are yay/makepkg/etc. The only option I know of is pcuses, which is ncurses-based and looks great IMO. The only thing I'd add is the option to download a screenshot like synaptic on Debian.
- I prefer to delete/move dirs with large sizes or massive trees or thousands of files via CLI, too, as Thunar takes forever (I since added a custom action to invoke rm). Anyone know why? Does rm kill just the top level inode and orphan the rest?
- Generally, I like a GUI file browser because it's easier to navigate, has custom actions, etc. and looks prettier. It's one of a few areas I like the mouse.
- Obviously real web browsing needs a GUI with a proper renderer with js and HTM(5) support and the built-in x264 support.
- People may differ depending on their preference of mouse vs keyboard. I have sxhkd setup that I can do 90% from the keyboard. So obviously I prefer a keyboard-centric tool. By the same token, people who can use a mouse quickly will gravitate to GUIs.
What I will say in closing is that the CLI is a constant. So when I find myself in any OS besides Windows, I generally can at least do thing, from only the basics on MacOS (as I'm not super familiar with it), to running the entire system on Debian & kids. GUIs will vary and change and get you lost. I rember long before Linux, when I first got Win3.1 (it was still just a shell then), jumping back to MSDOS to do most things. It was Win98 IIRC that Windows became a fully-fledged OS and I felt lost and scared. I was frustrated ever since. That's why I use Linux and sometimes FreeBSD (lately GhostBSD as it's preconfiged). Just that you will never be lost in the CLI, whereas every fcking GUI overhaul in an OS (and software, too) becomes a royal PITA (like wading through this post, just much worse ^10).