Are expensive Zojirushi bread makers worth the money?

For most reviewers, yes if consistency and build matter to you. Across the reviewers we read, Zojirushi's Virtuoso Plus and Home Bakery Supreme draw repeated praise on r/BreadMachines for reliable, even loaves and longevity, and seriouseats.com rated the Virtuoso highly. The honest counterpoint: a minority of community posts call their loaves 'dense' with 'zero flavor,' and the machines are frequently out of stock and cost three to five times what a capable budget machine does. If you bake occasionally, a sub-$120 machine may satisfy you just as well.