Linux will never replace that other OS as the home computer OS

Does it need to?
I’m fine with Linux, it works for me and I couldn’t care less if it doesn’t become mainstream, especially if opening to a wider audience means altering the status quo that makes the OS great for people like me.
I don’t want a GUI if that entails sacrificing the CLI, you can look at the Flatpak CLI if you want an example: they went all-in with the graphical stores and the command line is neglected.