Never needed MB drivers in Linux and ethernet has allways worked. How ever mouse, keyboard and "display" hasn't allways worked.How many MB drivers do you have to install in Linux Mint? How often does the ethernet not work?
In Windows installation I have had never situation that mouse, keyboard or display doesn't work after installation, as long they are connected correctly.
Also while I can install MB drivers in Windows, you don't have to, because it just makes some stuff better, but base works even without it.
Never, but same is with linux. How ever screen (display) has allways worked even without drivers after installation in Windows, same can't sayed with Linux.How often over the years has windows had even Nvidia drivers included?
When I mean worked I mean that you actually see something in dislay, can move mouse and write with keybord. That doesn't mean you can get correct resolutions, but it does work.
I use linux Mint now every day, allmost 2 years now. So I like it, but I don't blind my self, that there is some serious issus in installation.
Also the hardware issues isn't allways that the hardware is unknown, it can be more like the system can't handle them correctly.