Do you think it's worth it to spend a bit more and get the S&W M&P 9 2.0
YES!
... or the sd9ve is a good buy regardless?
NO!
I've shot both and I'd buy the M&P and would never buy the SD9VE. I can shoot the SD9VE well, but I still think it's a recipe for frustration for many shooters, esp newer ones. If you have the patience, it's a great gun to build skills on because if you can shoot it well, then you can probably shoot anything well. However, that will take time and a lot of patience. Most people I see shooting cheap guns with various "issues", tend to regret the decision over time and buy something else.