When I started composing, it was simple. I drew out five-line staves by hand, made some copies, and filled in notes with a pencil or pen. At the time, there was no problem with this. In fact, I believe it may have been for the best. However, eventually it was a problem—I stayed with pencil and pen for basically a decade, never upgrading to a notation software or a DAW.
Thankfully, I came across Oscar Osicki’s podcast A Composer’s Journey which gave me a kick in the pants. If I wanted to be a composer, I needed the tools to do so. So over the next few years, I invested in a notation program, a DAW, and orchestral libraries. It truly leveled up my game. I can now share my music with others—with scores and tracks—which I could never do before.
If you are an instrumentalist, you need to invest in your trumpet or violin. If you are an equestrian rider, you need to invest in your horses. The same principle applies to artists. If you are a composer or artist or what have you, you need to invest in your craft. So get the tools you need.