In terms of financially no - but in terms of enjoying the hobby yes.
I started collecting vintage cards in the mid 1970s as a kid going to antique shows, etc with my folks. By the time I graduated from college and grading came into the hobby I was kinda repulsed by it all. Locking my cards under plastic? How does one smell them? I didn't even get close enough to grading to really understand it - I just dropped out of the hobby.
Then in 2009 when I had to clear out my parent's place I took back all my cards. That's when I did research on 'protecting' them and found this forum.
My wife knew me before I got back into the hobby and now and she would vouch for me how much absolute enjoyment I get from finding/buying/occasional selling and especially meeting people on this site that I can now call friends.
Happy collecting everybody.
oh but don't out auctions.
peter