Is creatine worth it?

So, I'm thinking about taking creatine. I realize there are side-effects but I'm told the gains far outweigh the side-effects. I'm about 136 lbs., bench around 205. I know taking creatine requires a cycle, where one takes creatine for a month or two, and then cycles off for about two weeks. Let's say I take it for 10 weeks (a bit more than 2 months). ume the 7-8 weeks is my creatine intake and the 2-3 weeks off are my cycling off. In those 10 weeks, will I have made better gains by simply disregarding creatine? I know that once you stop taking creatine, strength and m decrease (in water weight) by a noticable amount, but nothing too drastic. Will my gains have been better without creatine?