I was thinking about this question today as someone used our work printer for some personal stuff.
As for me, I am printing little things that I would say make it worth it. I’ve printed lens adapters for my camera for example. That’s worth a good 14 to 30 bucks per print. My most favorite photo was with an adapted lens that came from a projector. I also printed IEMs and those things are worth it. Listening to music is second to none on those things. Plus I printed the same shell but for ear protection and again the fit is perfect and sure there’s post processing to get smooth surfaces but in the end it looks like a professional made it. So I think 3d printers are worth it.
I got an Ender 3v2 and for two years was trying to just get it to work properly, repairing it, and learning about printing. After all of that I’ve enjoyed having an okay printer, but I’m a bit jealous of everyone starting out now that won’t have to deal with all of the garbage I did. And I’m sure people who started years before me felt the same when the Enders came out. If not for those annoyances, yes it’s been worth it.
I’m in the same situation - started with the same printer, put money and parts into it to get it to be reliable, and now I can just login to Octoprint and send something with 99% of prints just working. I wipe the build plate down, blast it with a few squeezes of canned air, and it just works.
But now these kids and their Bambus and multi-color print abilities…get off my lawn. Seriously, kids, you’re in my light and I’m trying to get this hotend adjusted…
Lol I’ve got an Ender V2 - and my brother just upgraded to a Bambu. He’s such a fucker… I’m jealous.
LOL we got an ender at work too. That thing is so going to be dragged down the freeway one day. It’s gathering dust these days. Yup they keep on coming up with more interest stuff. Like the only reason I got into it was because they came up with water soluble resins. Like no way I’m keeping gallons of alcohol at home.