If you want to get the most out of the ice fishing experience, and more importantly see yourself ice fishing for years to come.
Then get a flasher.
I fished for years without a flasher. I recently got one and it has changed the way I ice fish. It helps with sounding for traps if you set them and it tells you if you are wasting your time jigging at a hole. Check depth before even drilling. Shows you the type of bottom you have for species of fish.
While I will never say "I should of gotten one of these years ago", I will say that it dramatically increases your chances to see fish, which increases your chances of catching fish.