Is it just me, or is it a lot easier to say an expensive thing was "worth it" when the resources used to pay for it come from somebody else's labor?
"worth it" is relative to the amount in which a choice fits with your goals/beliefs, and the price tag in relation to how much money you have.
$450 is worth it, if your reason for getting out of bed in the morning, is to taste the finest food this world has to offer.
$450 is worth it, if that amount of money is so insignificant, that you don't even have to think twice about it.
$450 is not worth it, if you don't really care about fine dining, and/or you don't have much money.
So to answer your question... yes, I think it's easier to say something is "worth it" when it's total cost to you is zero.