If you want to upgrade past the Last patch that was released for the pre-Gold Version (1.49), yes. I'd recommend it if you think you might play more than a little bit - there are tons of things fixed, improved, and added in Gold.
PvK
P.S. Fryon beat me to the answer by one second...
[ January 17, 2004, 03:18: Message edited by: PvK ]