Is the double ship beneficial in Galaga?

Is it worth getting your ship captured (and subsequently released) so you can get double firepower?.

I know it helps kill enemies faster but it also doubles your target area - and some of the stages are bullet hell. Plus if your ship is captured, there is no guarantee you will get it back - since it could be destroyed by friendly fire. It also consumes 1 ship.

Yet I've heard some people swear by getting the double ship. Is it really that much more beneficial? If so why?

This is a no-brainer. You don't have to do this, but it is one of the only way to get a high score. Without a double-ship, it is exceedingly difficult, close to impossible, to get all the ships on the bonus levels, therefore losing many points.

If you plan on going for a higher score, the double ship is the ONLY way to go, even though it consumes a ship, you get so many more points, and if you finish the bonus round, you get another ship.

It is a very high risk-reward gamble to go for the double ship.

You are not guaranteed to get your ship back if you allow it, and you will definitely lose a ship for doing it.

However, with an increase in firepower comes an increase in security - being able to destroy more enemy ships in a shorter time means less time for them to threaten your two ships. Yes, it also makes you more vulnerable to bullets that DO get through, but that is part of the high-risk factor.

Given that it is the only way in the game to improve your firepower, it is also a fairly good reward for the risk, especially since earing points faster means you can make up the lost ship more easily.

If you are fairly confident in your dodging ability, and want to go for a top score, it's a gamble worth considering.