It’s usually worth it because

1. You include court costs in the amount you sue for
2. You include the highest possible rate for your time in the amount you sue for
3. You include all incident expenses

Plus, the landlord has an asset you can put a lien on in case of non-payment, the place you rented. It’s not the same as suing someone with no assets where the debt is uncollectible.

NAL, just a former renter who got screwed over a few times, then stopped getting screwed over after I figured out that court is actually good for tenants and bad for shady landlords.