Although I wouldn't consider "ifconfig, fdisk, parted"
tools
that inexperienced users should have at their fingertips.
I find ifconfig and route extremely useful for inexperienced users.
While trying to remotely help clueless newbies over IM, I have often
had to tell them to use either of these two commands to report the
configuration of their system. Much more easier and than telling than
to click through a maze of GUI widgets.
Cheerio,
Debarshi
--
"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."
-- Arthur Ashe