This thread is going to confuse the OP as there is no consensus.
FWIW, I existed for years quite happily without a SM. But I also yearned for one for a long time. Then I took the plunge and I immediately notice if I am not able to reach for it and have it work straightaway. Sometimes for no apparent reason, it stops working and I then have to reinstall the driver. That’s a pain at the best of times but it is especially so with a SM as you often have to use the Evans Method to get it working.
I wouldn’t agree. I have the ordinary SM with just two side buttons and I never use either. I don’t use the inbuilt assignable virtual buttons because I find it easier to use the keyboard. I just use the SM for navigation.