Maybe, maybe not. For just managing OBD2 DTC's, you don't need VCDS. If you have a smartphone You can buy an ELM 327 bluetooth adapter for as low as $14 on Flea-Bay and use it with a playstore app called torque. Free with adds or $9 for the pro no add version.
VCDS is great to have, but most people won't even understand how to use the advanced features it has.
I agree, VCDS is an awesome tool, but if you don't understand how to use it, it is just a pricey toy.
Just clearing codes does not fix anything. When you have a DTC, what you have to do is troubleshoot as to why the ECU set the code. If the problem still exists, the code will just come back if you clear it.
If your friend thought that resetting the codes fixed anything, he does not understand how OBD2 works in the scheme of things.
So many techs will read a code and then just start replacing parts that are named in the text of the code instead of doing any actual troubleshooting. Boneheads.............
As an example, several DTCs (codes) for the electric steering found on MK5 and newer cars might indicate a faulty ground, not that your $2,500 steering rack needs to be replaced just because it is named in the text of the DTC.