It depends on you, and the terrain you are riding. If you never, ever go in the small ring, and you are always riding in your 53/19 or some other big cog then I think yes. It is going to improve your chainline bringing you back down in the smaller cogs, however you will not have the same benefits for the small ring. If you ride a really nasty hill that is so steep you need a 25, and you are now running an 11-21 or 23 then you may be screwed.
dav,
BTW, welcome to Slowtwitch! Just noticed this was your first post.
Should you be so inclined, the book:
BICYCLE GEARING: A Practical Guide, by Dick Marr
published by The Mountaineers
will be very informative on this subject.
There are numerous tables and charts that are easy to use to identify your current gearing and any proposed change in gearing and how that might compare with your current gearing.
I recently switched to 50/34 compacts on my road bike. My wife opted for 50/38. It works well for her with 12/27 cassette. We live in an area with some decent hils.
I have bad mouthed the compact concept before BUT I have had a change of heart. My Grandma has just started riding after many health problems and I think she " may" need some of this stuff. Does it really help you tootle around ?