my comment was mostly in jest...

i dont use a mod manager and i have 63 mods installed for valheim. i frequent the OdinPlus and Valheim Modding discord servers and the discords each have a feed for the nexus and thunderstore notifying members of any and all uploads to the sites. if i see a mod that im using listed there, i just click the link and download the update and install.

ive shared my installed mods/modpacks with a few friends by just copying my plugins/configs folders and posting to my google drive.

it is of my opinion that users should be familiar with folder structures and where things go / need to be. a few extra clicks, sure... but the knowledge of where files are located is worth the extra clicks to navigate to the appropriate folders.

i wont say this is for everyone.... some people want / prefer automation... but i prefer knowing rather than blindly trusting...

as for running a modded game "vanilla", just rename "winhttp.dll" to something else, and you're good to go, no mods will be loaded, including bepinex.

to each his own tho... however you prefer to do it as long as it gets the job done.