Yes, but subjective. You would probably get significantly more enjoyment out of the lighter frame models, along with the components that come with those models. 2 chain rings vs 3 make a significant improvement. But worth is subjective. The best advice would be to ride all the variations you can.

You will likely not notice much ride differences unless you transverse rough terrain.

I found the higher end components rarely need adjustment.

Definitely disk brakes, but there is a different feel to each variation, you may love one over another.

So test ride as many different components as you can to see if any of them make any difference in feel. Don't worry about durability, just what feels best to you. Higher end components typically shift smoother and have more convenience features, but buy the least money one with the component you likes.