I can absolutely recommend it. There is a learning curve but this channel and the spad discord will sort you out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tTl33LGAH0
Your point about bindings that should be available in sim is valid but I think spad enables some deeper configuration of bindings and devices that would probably be out of scope for the default sim. I recently invested in a stream deck XL&Plus and those with spad is a game changer. The other benefit was how easily everything just transfers between 20 and 24. I have spent almost no time in the 24 control config to date.