I used them on all my basses for a couple of years but for the past year or so haven’t used one at all - partly by accident as I bought a new bass and never got around to getting a new fretwrap for it. Long story short, I haven’t missed it, and I’m sure not having it has only served to clean up my technique! I play 99% fingerstyle with floating thumb technique though so YMMV.
I’d still recommend them but you’ll survive without them - depending on style of course