It really depends on what you enjoy. I would try to go on a trip with someone that spider rigs to see if you enjoy it before you make the investment. We started spider rigging because when the weather gets hotter and the fish suspend in deeper water it was a way for us to keep enjoying fishing. Spider rigging allowed us to keep some air moving and cover more area verses sitting still in the blistering sun. We spider rig some now in as shallow as 3 foot of water with a 1/4 jig during the spawn, just depends on what the fish are doing and how we decide that we want to fish for them. We may even change during the day. Start a lot of days in early summer spider rigging and then switch to our cranking poles and back pulling rack. We starting pulling crank baits about 4 years ago and have been doing some long line trolling the past 2 years. I'm taking clients wade fishing this March on Grenada(all time favorite lake), water levels permitting. This will be my first time to wade fish for crappie, I'm really excited to give this a try, I'm like a kid waiting on Christmas right now! I have never tried side pulling but watched Roger Gant doing this on Grenada while he was pre fishing for the Crappie Masters last fall.
I typed all of this to say I'm with Greg, I enjoy learning and trying new techniques. My wife and I fish a lot together, her favorite is pulling cranks and spider rigging for her is a close second, as for me I love it all! which makes it more expensive! Haha!
I'm not sure where you live but you are welcome to go spider rigging with me sometime. I'm by no means an expert but I have a heck of a time trying. I live in SE AR mainly fish in MS, SE AR, and a little in NE LA, I can get to these lakes quicker than Central AR lakes. I'm sure that you can find someone close to take you spider rigging if not send me a pm sometime.