Ethernet to Router and Modem Questions

[BuckSkin]

If internet searching had not gone down the drain several years ago, I might could find these answers without troubling others.....

I DO appreciate the time and patience involved in all the help I get.

Considering hard-wired, cable-connected, computers; other than providing a handful of ports, what, if any, benefit is a router ?

What, if any, would be the disadvantage of having the hard-wired machines connected via a switch BETWEEN the router and modem; thus, the router could be placed in a much more advantageous location without the need for everything else having to originate at the router ?

 

[BuckSkin]

Why You Need a Router.

After finding and reading that ^^^^, I guess I do need a router between the modem and everything else.

I was first under the understanding that all the router did was provide for the wireless devices.

Thanks for reading.