All of the brother printers I've owned have had ethernet so I just plug them into the network -- no wifi problems then either.

Wired networks are so much better than wifi, so anytime I have walls/ceilings open for renovations, I always come in after the contractors leave to run some ethernet wires for future use. After a couple of renovations I've got some really useful runs for hardwiring some of the things I use most: TVs, printers, and an extra wireless access point in my garage for extra range.

That's true, but it's a one-time pain, and if you prefer you can configure it by downloading software and connecting the printer. I really like the fact that no-software option is there, though.

I use WPS for that.