Are expensive mats like Manduka actually worth it?

High-trust testing and specialist-community sentiment broadly say yes for durability, but with a caveat: Manduka mats are repeatedly described as slippery out of the box and needing weeks-to-months of break-in before grip peaks. Reviewers who valued lifetime longevity and dense cushion felt the premium was justified; those who wanted instant sweat grip often preferred a dedicated dry-grip or rubber surface.