Bass di with cab vs without cab

I’m recording modern metal at home and I’m trying to understand the importance of cabinet IRs for bass.
If I record my bass through a DI and use an amp sim like shb-1 or s-drive but don’t use an IR cab, how much am I missing compared to using a proper bass cabinet IR?
Is it common to record bass with just an amp sim and no cabinet IR?
Or do most people use cabinet IRs when recording bass?
Does adding an IR make a huge difference to the final mix, or is it a fairly subtle improvement?
Is it worth spending money on good IR packs, or can you get professional results without them?
I’d love to hear how you guys record your bass for modern metal and whether you think cabinet IRs are essential or optional.