Sounds like you answered your question, it will be worth it.
Apple also has a deal right now that you will receive $200 off if you activate with Verizon or T-Mobile so that would offset the extra initial cost when purchasing it over the Wifi only model.
Just get the cheapest plan option, I was...
Problem is a lot of these platforms have moved to FB or Reddit in the last 5 years.
Also, a lot of us have had priorities change/lifestyle changes and can't keep what we had at one point in our lives.
Yeah I've been going through a lot of old threads and other forums as well and it really sucks how much was lost..
I guess that happens with migrations over the span of 20 years..
Took a week off from there to return to that.. mess..
This has been my main tech site for quite a while but I'd occasionally go over to OCN, pretty sad to see it in this state..