Are self-watering pots actually worth it?

Across the gardening subreddits we read, the consensus is nuanced: self-watering pots work well for thirsty tropicals (monstera, philodendron, ferns, peace lilies) and for people who travel or forget to water, but they're a poor match for succulents and cacti, which prefer dry-down cycles. Several r/houseplants threads also note that the wicks move water more aggressively than expected, so reservoirs may empty faster than the marketing suggests.