Sample size of one. Both standard AppleCare and AppleCare+ have been increasingly indispensable for me in the last decade as the quality of all Apple hardware has been in steady decline.

On average my macbooks, iphones, watches don't last a year. AC+ shortens and reduces the negotiation headaches.

I always try to go to Genius Bars and avoid AASP. The bars are generally much more benevolent in developed markets — US, HK, SG — compared to developing like Bangkok.

With careful and polite negotiation you can often get free repairs and replacements (and once in a blue moon, upgrades) out of warranty.

While mostly in Asia, I often start a support case with Apple Support US, they can make a favorable decision and transfer me to their global branches, who then can direct a local Bar or AASP.

The Genius Bars in Mainland China (I mostly dealt with the one in Shenzhen) were great.