do I really need AirPods?

Nobody NEEDs AirPods. They're cool but they're not the game in town when it comes to true wireless earbuds, some of which are comparable in quality while being much cheaper, like the JBL UA wireless buds, or the Samsung Galaxy Buds.

No one "needs" ANY kind of headphones.

If I was going out with a pretty girl, I wouldn't want to listen to anything but her voice,

so I would Not be playing music only for myself.

Need? No.

Unless someone is pointing say a gun at you and saying "I'm going to kill you if you don't have a pair of Air Pods". Then you need them,

....only as much as you think you do.

No, people just buy those to flex. Flex that they spent a ton of money on something that can easily be lost, dies fast, and in turn requires constant charging. And, if you care, may have your Bluetooth shown when using them or it disconnecting and possibly starts blasting porn that you're watching. What's that, midgets? Now your family is concerned for you.

i bought some at costco and the battery life is crap, you can only get like an hour of listening before they need to be recharged

No one NEEDS any Apple product.

Can you afford them? Bluetooth sound quality for an Audiophile is rubbish. I actually use a Cowon Plenue 1 device with music copied at Apple lossless or FLAC format and Audeze LCD2 (Fazor 4) Headphones - they also mess up my hair but I'm listening to music it was the best quality I could afford.

End of the day - it's your cash and you spend it the way you want. So its AirPods and lovely hair or it is charities like save a donkey, for the cash. Actually headphones for you girlfriend might be a better investment and you guys listen together - you might get a loving surprise for this and a lot of kudos points.

Then go ahead and buy the Airpods. Why do you need permission from strangers ???

i would get thern if you want thern