I did not took them. Not because i think they are not worth or "i'm not scared at all type of guy" or they are costly. It's just because it makes me more thrill to find it on my own. I just enjoy every moment spending time trying to learn something new, and that got me to kiting just after i saw guy ripping it.
Yes, it's dangerous. Already got 4 stitches and been one month off the water, but that did not change my mind or stoke.
Talked with local instructor, he sad me "one day and you'll be upwind, four days and you'll jump around". But i sad kind of: yeah i know (maybe) but what if i enjoy sense of finding it on my own. It's not the money it's kind of "what do you want of it".. Later on "while i was doing my downwinder" he show me "how to park it" while retrieving my board, later on he gave mi his old kite to get it repaired and fly cause my was 2007 12m C type XD
..that was about half year ago. now i got good 7m,9m, that relic 12m C and FS15(still not flew yet). During half year been about 6 hours on water with kite in the air and i'm thinking i'm close to upwind.
do i think they are worth it, yes. but in my case not really. i'll go upwind some day..