This is true. I had to fix a broken spoke on my beater mountain bike and thought this would be an excellent opportunity to learn. I couldn't figure it out and thought no way do I have to weave it through all of the other spokes but I couldn't see any other way to do it. I called a biking buddy and he told me that's how you do it! Just bend it as little as possible around the other spokes until you're there. I did it and everything seemed to work fine. I do recall it took me some time whereas a shop would probably be more confident and heavy-handed and be done in three minutes.

I'd try it yourself before I'd pay $20. I bought three spokes (bring your wheel in with you so they can measure them) and it was something like $7 total for them. Now I'm set for the next two breaks!