I think you're basically paying for the peace of mind that, if anything major happens within three years, you'll be fine. For accidental screen/liquid damage you'd end up maybe saving $100-$200 in the unlikely event that that happens, and like you mentioned, you could pay for battery replacements twice and you'd still save money over AppleCare+.
The cost of AppleCare+ and the deductible ends up being either barely cheaper or even more expensive than just paying for the repair itself, without AppleCare+. It's not a maintenance plan or for expected wear and tear, it's insurance against unexpected and unforeseeable failures, defects, and accidents. They'll replace it if it is functionally unusable.
Later repairs out of pocket include a logic board ($600) on one, and a battery ($200) on another.Īpple won't replace it for cosmetic reasons like a scratch under AppleCare, and possibly not even if you are willing to pay the full cost. Replaced my Time Capsule under warranty because it gained coverage as well, somehow (accessories are covered with the computer's AppleCare coverage or something).
Replaced the power cords four times ($70 value each time) due to strain relief fraying. Under AppleCare, we replaced a keyboard (even the scissor switch keyboards can develop problems), which was free but the 2nd replacement a year and a half later (out of warranty) was $500. AppleCare didn't cover accidental repairs at the time. 2 days before our first anniversary of owning our MacBook Pro Late 2013s, dog knocked my wife's MBP off her lap, and the screen broke.