Are commuter pants worth it over just wearing regular pants for short commutes?

For commutes under 15 minutes on flat terrain, regular pants may be fine. But even short commutes reveal the problems commuter pants solve: the crotch seam digs into the saddle, the fabric doesn't stretch with your pedal stroke, and you'll likely arrive with a sweaty lower back from the waistband. If you commute 3+ days per week, the comfort improvement of commuter pants is significant and worth the investment.