real-time updates with WebSockets, when to jump in

I've been kicking around the idea of adding some real-time features to a project. You know, using WebSockets for live notifications or maybe even collaborative editing. I get that WebSockets can make things trickier, especially when it comes to managing connections and scaling. So, for those of you who've actually built real-time stuff, when did you decide it was worth the extra hassle? Are there certain situations or how much traffic do you expect that make it a no-brainer to use them, or a definite pass