Unfortunately, nc has become a slightly less user-friendly web-browser after the HTTPS everywhere movement. It's tricky to do the math in your head before the timeout hits.

In all seriousness, very few power-user browsers exists, to the point where QuteBrowser is the only fully-functional one I can think of... Which is sad.

Brave is "just" a completely regular browser owned by someone else + a few bonus features.

Ironic, since xkcd is another awesome thing from the Internet of 2005-2015 that is now a mere husk of its former glory - just like Firefox.