Haha yeah it's worth it at least once. But definitely won't do it on the regular. Franklin's is what inspired me to start bbq'ing myself. I got a pit, got his book and started getting big into it. It honestly ruined me though, because I can't enjoy most bbq joints now. There's very few that are in that tier of quality. Salt Lick is definitely up there.

I live near San Antonio and we only really have one place that is near that level. 2M Smokehouse. They blend a lot of mexican flavors with the Texas bbq as well. Coincidentally the pit master learned under John Lewis at LA Barbeque in Austin. John Lewis was one of the original pit masters at Franklin's when it first opened.