Finished hooking up my new turntable about an hour and a half ago, and looked through my albums to find some that were in premium record sleeves and untouched for >30 years. First one up was Dire Straits from 1978. Out of the sleeve and onto the turntable with no cleaning(I’m waiting for the kit I ordered). Not a click or pop or even surface noise. Just sweet and very present music.
So I answered my original question(at least for myself). It was definitely worth it.
One more thing I discovered. Listening to digital I stopped listening to albums; digital streaming had given me a kind of musical ADHD. Vinyl is a whole new(and old) experience.
Now I am onto listening to Richard & Linda Thompson’s album Pour Down Like Silver on Carthage Records from 1983 which, by the way, is not available on Tidal or Apple Music
Thanks for all the responses to my original question.