The graphical user interface has almost nothing to do with ease of configuration. And yes, ease of configuration is worth a lot.

Related anecdote: I started a friend of mine on Ubuntu, but she hated all the configuration via endless clicking. She immediately took to Archlinux---there's still configuration, but it's simpler and since it's all text, it's much easier to just read everything on the Archwiki instead of having to follow pictures (or descriptions of pictures).