bonus buys worth it?

i get why people like bonus buys, the thrill hits faster and you skip all the dead spins, but i always wonder if it's actually smarter for your bankroll in the long run. they feel like they're worth it sometimes, especially if you get a big win, but isn't that just playing into the volatility the slots want from us? when i crunch the math, the price you pay for the bonus is usually a little more than you'd expect for just spinning into it naturally.

has anyone tracked their results on bonus buys versus normal play for a while? would love to know if the numbers ever line up.