If you plan to be a regular bicycle commuter who carries stuff on the ride, a good set of panniers is likely worth it and will solve multiple problems and be an enabler in terms of facing different weather and other challenges.

I have a set of Ortlieb backroller classics that I use every day. They have as much capacity as I need for my clothes and other stuff, and they are waterproof, durable, and high-quality. I have already logged hundreds of commutes with them, and they will be serving me on hundreds more. As someone else on BF said once, I plan to eventually replace my bikes over time underneath this one set of Ortliebs.

Your commute and your conditions will affect what choice of gear might be optimal. But for most regular daily bicycle commuters, panniers can be a good option and "worth it."