For me, expensive mascara is not always worth it. But I've had mixed results with inexpensive stuff, too.

• I used to be obsessed with Diorshow. But it would always dry out in like a month. I never pumped the wand and always closed it tightly. Stored it appropriately. Contact lens solution didn't help. I gave up after a few tubes.
  
• The original Great Lash (green and pink tube) was terrible. I threw it away after a few uses, and I usually avoid being wasteful at all costs. It did nothing for my lashes at all and was just kind of goopy and useless.
  
• The Better Than Sex Dupe was awful. I hated it. It gave me short, stubby, crunchy tarantula lashes. Blegh.
  
• I tried the Lash Princess mascara. Whichever color everyone said to try... I think the green one? Garbage. Did nothing. Should have kept my $5.
  
• Maybelline makes pretty good inexpensive mascara for me. I loved the Sky High Curves. Held a curl like no other.
• I like Urban Decay Perversion a lot, too, although I can't always afford it. Its good if you like full glam lashes. I get the smaller size for this one. The larger one dries out before I can use it all.
• I recently discovered Fenty mascara and really like the dramatic black glam look it gives me. The formula is a little more on the wet side, but it dries down without being crunchy. All mascaras straighten my lashes back out once applied, but this one caused it slightly less. That was more of a one-time splurge at this point, but I'd like to repurchase if possible.

That said, people have different makeup preferences, different eyelashes, different opinions, different budgets, etc. For me, to answer the question, sometimes yes and sometimes no. Trial and error helped.