[CCIP]

I don't think there's really a difficulty difference between stock and GWX, because you can still change difficulty settings in the game with appropriate effects. If you're really worried about difficulty - just set the game to an easier level. Auto targeting, map contacts, external camera, stealth meter - those things will make it very manageable for even the beginner-est of beginners. IMO the original game's shortcomings make it, in some ways, more difficult to manage than GWX. And while it might make the learning curve slightly steeper, starting at the mod you're actually going to play will make it both smoother and shorter.