Recoil buffers or "ShokBufs" are definitely worthwhile. They improve the feel of the recoil impulse and lengthen the life of the gun. A gun run on ShokBufs will look new internally indefinitely. The only potential downside is that Commander length slides may not slingshot or even lock back on an empty mag with a ShokBuf in place. Full size GI frames have no such problems.
There is some BS around that ShokBufs will go to pieces and jam up your gun. First of all, they last well over 1000 rounds, so you will have plenty of opportunity to inspect them during field stripping and cleaning. Second of all, if by some miracle one did go to pieces... Nah, they are crazy tough, it won't happen. I recommend the Blue ones from Wilson.
A very long time ago they were made by King's and were made of leather. The leather ones would go to pieces, but I still doubt that they would jam up the gun. They'd just fall into the dust cover and out the front.