Are they worth it?
With every expenditure, there is what I call an "80%" rule.
Putting the issue of cost aside, there is always a "gold standard"- a product which is clearly superior to comparable merchandise. There is almost always also an "acceptable standard"- a product which is about 80% as nicely finished and optioned as the "gold standard". This 80% product sets the standard in people's mind for what the product "should" cost.
From 0-80%, the cost of the product is roughly linear in relation to the improvement in quality. From 80-90% the cost doubles. From 90-100% the cost doubles again, making the 100% product four times as expensive as the 80% product. It's like this for cameras, computers, and sports cars.
Is it worth it? It depends on how well you understand what you want. 10 years ago, if I knew how much I'd have spent on a 200 hp air cooled Type 1- I'd have institutionalized myself, and been watching the schedule for a frontal lobotomy.
I got into the hobby thinking, "Hey, it's a VW bug with a different body. How much could it cost, really?" The answer is: a lot, if you get deep into this madness enough to want the very best. It's a small industry, and there are no economies of scale- nice stuff is made by trained people who need to be paid. There are no assembly lines, only skilled artisans doing what they do.
Nicer stuff than what is readily available at the 80% level costs more (sometimes a lot more), because people with the skills to do something else have devoted their lives to building the perfect speedster.
Whether it is worth it or not is really up to you.
