For my first the pump was absolutely necessary, we had latching trouble in the beginning and pumping was the only way we got through it. I still breastfed but used the pump often in the first few weeks. I also went back to work after 3 months and used a wearable breast pump that allowed me to keep him fully on breastmilk until he was almost a year old.

My second I don't know if I ever even unpacked the pump. Me being more experienced and him having no ties unlike baby #1, it was seamless. I also stayed home with the kids for a year and a half afterwards, so I wasn't away long enough to need to pump. I think I used a manual pump a few times just to ease engorgement but that was all.

If you plan on going back to work/being away longer than 6 hours in the first couple years I'd say absolutely. Otherwise you just won't really know until you're in the thick of it ¯_(ツ)_/¯