Is the added experience of the competition die really worth it?
That was my question as well
The micrometers make adjustments easier, but the real benefit is the ability to "reset" the die. Think of it like zeroing your turrets on your rifle scope - it's nothing more than a point of reference to return to the previous setting.
This can be done with any die using the depth spindle on a vernier caliper, measuring the seating stem to the case body, and body to the headplate or press body.
Personally, more often than not, I have no use for micrometer seaters. I make dummy rounds to let me reset my dies if and when I need, but most often, if I have multiple bullets for a given cartridge, I simply buy more dies and leave them set. I have 5 turret heads set up for 223rem right now for different loads. I also have 3 other seating dies in the drawer set for different bullets, so I can change among rifles and bullets without ever resetting my dies. I also have a tackle box with around 50 dummy rounds for 223/5.56 set for different bullets in different rifles to let me quickly reset my dies. Dummy rounds are a lot cheaper than micrometer seaters - a guy might get $5 at most into a dummy round, sometimes as low as 20 cents, but no matter what, it's cheaper than the micrometer seater, or the up-charge above standard die cost for the "competition series" die which comes with one.
I have Redding Competition dies, and very much enjoy them. I also have Hornady micrometer seaters, and I agree, they're great, but they're not Redding great. If money isn't a concern, or if a guy doesn't want to have multiple die sets or have dummy rounds sitting around, then they do have a place.
So micrometer seaters aren't the pinnacle of reloading precision, they're just an aid to speed up resets. If you only have one rifle in the cartridge and will only regularly shoot one bullet, or if you're willing to buy multiple sets of less expensive dies, the Micrometer seater is not really worth much.