Is selvedge denim actually better?

Sometimes, but not automatically. Selvedge denim is woven on narrow vintage-style looms that leave a clean self-finished edge, signaling traditional construction and often denser, more characterful fabric. What it is not is a guarantee of strength or quality — a good modern wide-loom denim can outlast a mediocre selvedge one, and the finished edge itself is mostly aesthetic. You are paying partly for craft and partly for cachet. Judge the whole jean: fabric weight, cotton quality, and construction, with selvedge as one nice detail among them. If the rest of the jean is average, the selvedge ID alone does not make it a better buy.