If you want a GUI front end or "IDE" for LaTeX, you might as well just go and use Microsoft Word.
Have you used LyX? It works pretty well, has all the build & export functions built in, and lets you directly enter code if you want to.
Certainly easier to use LyX than figure out vi/emacs, TeX and the whole build chain. Especially if the person is not coming from a *nix or programming background.