We've never experienced any boar taint from our uncastrated boar weaners. Having said that, they have been kept in all male groups and slaughtered at about 8 months old. I don't think anyone here, apart from Lilian, has said they've detected boar taint and there are a number of threads on here about the same subject.
IMHO, if you can avoid these mutilations, then you should.
I've never had pork that's inedible due to taint BUT I can smell a difference when certain pork cooks and it's not a smell that makes me want to eat it (but I'm super fussy about smells and cooking since being pregnant and having a bad experience with a pot of boiling tatties on Xmas day)
I do think castration, providing it's done correctly and strictly adhereing to the welfare guidelines, is worth it.
For 2 reasons, as already mentioned
1) You've no chance of having an entire pig ruined due to taint. This also gives you the option of running them with gilts without unexpected/unwanted pregnancies (handy if you've got limited space/fenced areas or low weaner availablity) and it keeps them a bit calmer and more subdued.
2) From a pedigree breeding point of view. If I thought a boar was not good enough to breed from (in terms of conforming to the breed standard) I wouldn't want any unscrupulous people buying him, claiming to be going to eat him, only to find out he was being used for breeding. As someone who wants to have a good reputation for the quality of their stock, this could affect things.
An extra reason too is that I find castrated boars to be much more laid back and chilled (there is a safety concern with large, uncastrated boars) Now maybe it's from the Kune Kune side of things ? But as KK breeders we must NOT sell uncastrated boars as pets - it's just a huge no-no. But (just to confuse things more) my KK's are all 'done' by the vet, under anesthetic @ 6 weeks old - due in part to the hernia issue and in part cos I'm a big softy
When the time comes for my 'big' pigs to be done I'm sure I'll be reaching for a bottle of anesthetic (for them) or the phone to phone the vet to do it
HTH
Karen x