-snip-
OP, it's definitely worth it. The 3DS is awesome. Lots of people like to compare it to the Vita and say that you could hack a Vita for more power but THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
The 3DS is modern Nintendo gaming but with the fun, quirky console appeal of yesteryear, before they started getting too clinical and serious like with the Switch.
It's easy as piss to hack (I managed it with an ADHD toddler running around) and it can do so much from that point onwards. If you love retro gaming it's a godsend. NES, SNES, GB, GBA, Megadrive (Genesis), fucking Wonderswan, it's all there and more. DO IT.