Are reinforced tabs worth paying extra for?

Yes, according to the consensus among verified-purchase reviewers. Plain non-reinforced tabs tear at the punched hole within months of regular use, especially on heavily-used folders. Reinforced tabs (the kind with a strip of laminate or extra ply along the top edge) are repeatedly called out in retailer reviews as the single biggest durability upgrade, and are now standard on most folders from Amazon Basics, Pendaflex, and Smead.