You really don’t need to use the terminal if you don’t want to. The only reason so many people use it is because it’s usually the most efficient way to get stuff done, and it’s easier to show a terminal command than it is to show how to do something on each and every desktop since they all vary slightly.

When it comes to installing apps, Linux is actually not that different from how you install them on your phone. Most distros will have some kind of software center that you can use to install apps. Check here first before searching online. Most apps are NOT downloaded using your web browser.

Stick with a distro that’s been around forever. Newer distros have a lot of buzz, but they lack support and you’ll eventually come across a problem that you won’t know how to solve.