There are different levels to Goodyear welt shoes, especially for women as it hasn’t taken off in quite the same way in women’s fashion circles. But in short, I would say yes, they are absolutely worth it. If you get the right pair, the leather will stack up to the construction, and you’ll have them for 15+ years. Some brands I recommend for women are:

RM Williams. The OG Chelsea boot, and still some of the best out there.

Crockett and Jones. Exceptional pedigree, and a number of classic and daring styles.

Meermin + Carmina. Owned by the same family, they make shoes at slightly different price points. Meermin has a really good MTO program. Carmina is known for their unique lasts and their general elegance in design and construction.

Redwing is a bit of a toss up in terms of quality; some pairs still rock, but there have been many recent horror stories about them in the last decade or so. But the styles are classic and very good.

St. Crispins, John Lobb, and Edward Green are some of the highest level shoemaking brands, for hardcore enthusiasts only. Beautiful, to be sure, but oh so expensive.