It is an extra hop and a wireless NIC doesn't need to be touched once it's setup. But hey, if you want to imagine that adding a router doesn't add an extra hop sure - why notBecause I can afford it and it's easy. My PC doesn't have a wireless connection, because that's not necessary. It's not an "extra network hop". It can't be any easier than to have a setup you never have to touch, at all. Nothing you said was relevant to my setup.