Is Flite Control buckshot worth it?

For home defense, yes. The Flite Control wad keeps a fist-sized pattern out to distances where regular buckshot is already spreading to dinner-plate size. Tighter patterns mean more pellets on target and far less chance a stray pellet leaves the room — which matters for accountability and safety indoors. It is worth the extra cost for the ammo that is actually in your defensive gun. Still pattern your specific shotgun to confirm.