But to use that TUI you need a desktop, or at least a laptop I guess, but that distinction doesn't make sense. Are they referring to the GUI being the "Desktop Version"? Never heard it put that way before if so.

No, you don't need a "desktop" to use a TUI. It's terminal based and has nothing to do with the desktop environment you're in.

Alao, if you have a "desktop" that assumes you're using a GUI. Pretty straightforward.