It is well worth getting. Really is.Is VCDS worth getting? I just need a cheap eBay VAG-com cable and a Windows laptop, right?
You need a cheapy cable, I wouldn't get the cheapest one, buy one which has good feedback on it, because some cheap cables won't talk to all the controllers. I have one like this that Gendan sell, only mine's black.
Yep Windows laptop required.
The most expensive part is getting the full Ross-Tech license to allow full functionality. Costs $99 last time I looked. I've found it worth every penny, particularly as there are 2 other VAG cars in the household that use it. You can't do remote key coding for example without the full ($99) version.