is a hardware swap worth it on a cheap guitar?

[Thumpalumpacus]

There's a lot of wisdom in buying the guitar you really want -- it saves you money in the long run even if upfront cost is higher.

I like my 93, great playability and useful tones, but happily for my playing and sadly for my wallet, there's a 535 and some sort of full-hollow in my future. I've had a taste, now I want the dish.

[orri]

If you plan to play it: yes
If you plan to sell it: no (unless the current parts makes the instrument unplayable or a deal stopper)

[agentsmith]

no unless you will never sell it.

[tonedeaf]

My first "real" guitar was an Epi ES 175. I really knew about nothing about how various components affect the guitar, so I made many changes and modifications. When it came time to move up I was very grateful for what I learned. Some of the mods I reversed and sold the components, but I think the education I got was well worth the price. I made a much better informed decision on the next guitar.

[entresz]

On the right guitar a simple pickup swap can completely transform it. My MIJ 62 Custom Telecaster had nice stock pickups, but out of curiosity more than anything else I fitted a set of Bill Lawrence Micro-Coils. They turned a good guitar in a great guitar.

HOWEVER :
If I was to sell the guitar I would fit the original pickups back in. Not to mention that my Micro-Coils are actually signed by Bill Lawrence himself and I would keep them for the next Telecaster- they really won't add much to the resale value of the instrument.