> it wouldn't matter much because all the data brokers have already bought that information and are under no obligation to remove the information from their databases.

That's actually not right. If you get a criminal record expunged, the FCRA requires those data brokers to not release those records ever again to whoever runs a background check on you. If they do it, they're in violation of the FCRA.

The thing that sucks is that there is NOT some kind of big hammer that comes out of the sky and smashes them if they screw up in this way. The process is basically that you'd contact them after the fact to let them know the record was expunged and they'd remove it... which doesn't help if you just failed to get a job because of the record. But they're supposed to stay on top of things and preemptively remove records like this before it becomes an issue.

I'd guess it's worth getting an expungement if you're done with your probation. In some places it's easier than others.