How are most audiophiles going from streamers to DACS

Make sure you are not mixing up fiber (i.e., optical) in lieu of Ethernet for purposes of bringing the digital information to the streamer vs. toslink (i.e., optical) as a means of conveying digital signal from the streamer to the DAC.
The first is in no way a compromise compared to Ethernet (although some will argue that it depends on the interface).
The second, optical toslink vs. electrical coax is discussed in this paper. BTW, Charles Hansen was founder/owner of Ayre Acoustics. If you click on his name at the bottom of the article it brings you to more discussion than you probably want.
In short, both toslink and coax can sound fine although coax is typically considered better...unless you start talking to folks who use USB.
Here is a post discussing USB vs. S/PDIF, which favors the USB interface, primarily because of the benefits of asynchronous mode USB, which slaves the source (i.e., server or computer) to the DAC.  However, according to the author, S/PDIF interfaces have  improved to the point where there is virtually no measurable or audible difference between the two, when properly implemented.  This is beneficial to those who still spin discs with a CD transport, which typically output through S/PDIF.

If you are starting out with just a  roku or similar media streamer with hdmi interface, here is a very inexpensive yet effective way I have found to do it:

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This really depends on the equipment you are using.  Since the node currently doesn't have a USB output, you are likely goin to have to settle on digital coax which will likely be your best performer.    

That being said, it really depends on the gear.  If I was using Chord gear, BNC will outperform any other input.  If you are running Rockna, I2S is the best input but if not available, next best is AES and I have customers whoe report "glorious" performance between say the Bricasti M5 and the Rockna Wavelight via AES.  

There is no universal truth on this one.  The gear matters.