Not for me. Never had acrylics, but I've tried the gel and the shellac. Each time, I LOVED the way my nails looked and had no chips or breakage for at least 3 weeks. And my nails grew so beautifully and evenly.
BUT - each time, afterward, I experienced breakage and tearing. My nails were destroyed; I tried the gels twice and the shellac once. The gel lasted longer and looked better, but each time I lost my nails, and found that they were thinned out.
So now it's au naturale for me, but I do get a manicure once in a while; I think it promotes healthy growth.