I say it's totally worth it - but of course, easy to say, since DH is the tech support around here!
DD10's user accounts on our machines have parental controls that prevent her from unknowingly installing malware. She can download and install texture packs and custom maps, since those are not executable, and after I've given her some guidance, she knows how to do these with minimal help. But I drew a line in the sand on mods, because a bad mod can break the client, a client software update can break the mod, mods may not play well with each other, and the last thing I want to do after spending all day working on computers is come home and work on computers. She has been told that she can play with mods when she's ready to provide her own tech support. Otherwise, if she wants a modded experience, she'll have to find a server and play it there.
DD's response: "I WANT TO LEARN COMPUTERS!!"
;-)
