I would like to say I am not completely newb to Linux. I have been using different distros as my daily drivers for seven years now. I would place myself to intermediate level in being “Linux-proficient.”
I am missing Network Manager icon. Since that is absent, I am not sure whether my sys-net has internet connection or not.
I think you are right in saying I may be missing drivers for my specific WiFi adapter. I do not have the specs of it off-the-top of my head, but I think pointing out that it is the stock wifi adapter that comes with a Thinkpad X220 would suffice.
I am now reminded of firmware-iwlwifi package being mentioned in Sven’s guide I linked in my OP. I will install that package to my deb-11-min-net template and try again.
Btw, do I need to change sys-firewall’s template, too? Or, can it (for now) stay as the default debian-11-dvm?