Is premium Italian pasta really worth the hype?

I've always bought whatever pasta was on sale, but lately I've been seeing a lot of people recommend imported Italian brands, saying the texture is noticeably better and that they hold sauce much better than regular supermarket pasta. The price difference isn't huge, but it's enough to make me wonder if it's actually worth paying more.

For those who've tried both, did you notice a real difference, or is it something only serious food lovers appreciate? I'm curious if premium Italian pasta genuinely lives up to the hype or if it's one of those things that's mostly driven by marketing.