graeme_p - 7:06 am on Dec 16, 2007 (gmt 0)

I suggest you either install Plesk or cPanel yourself or,

1) Get a file manager and other programs you need (e.h. text editor, perhaps an HTML editor) that can open remote files over ssh/sftp. Lots of Linux software can do this, I assume Windows equivalents exist.
2) Install software that provides "GUI in a terminal" like sysv-rc-conf and aptitude.
3) learn a minimum of command line stuff. It is not as difficult as you think: there is plenty of documentation and step by step howtos.

This solves your problems apart from GUI server configuration.

Another way would be to install Linux GUI software and install an X-server on your Windows PC to use it remotely. It might be usable over the net with compression (NoMachine NX), but I have never tried it.

I get the impression that your problem is really that running a web server is a lot of work. If you are making the jump from using a shared host, all the admin is now your problem. Every piece of software that has to be installed, every configuration problem, every security update, every security breach is your problem. There is a lot to do and a lot to know and a GUI only solves part of the problem: the only solution is to pay the extra for a managed server. That is why I have only had my own server on and off: if I can manage with shared hosting I will - even though good shared hosting is the same price as a VPS and a good fraction (per site!) of the price of a dedicated server..