At the risk of disagreeing with the majority here, I'd agree with Woosh. As low-cost sprung forks go, the NEX is easily worth the slight cost and weight penalty. It's far, far better than the oft-found "trampoline" springing of cheaper coil forks, and much better than no fork suspension at all.
Being a heavier rider, there is also the issue of "unsprung mass" on a bike with no suspension; the potential wear and damage on tyres/spokes/wheels/frame.
If you are a heavy rider often riding in a more upright position most of your weight is at the rear and failure points of frames are most common around the chain stays and bottom bracket where you have the flexing as the rear wheel takes impacts from the road and the rider delivers power through the bottom bracket. I've not heard of front suspension extending frame lifespan. Hardtail mountain bikes take an absolute pounding at the rear of the bike and the frames can fail more rapidly. I take your point that suspension can protect the bike although I would make the point that is better delivered by very thick profile tyres however if you want to protect the bike then surely you would need full suspension although accept a suspension seat post can help in that regard but then just getting out of the saddle and suspending your body above the bike also works in that regard and that is true of fully rigid bikes.
It's like the debate between the choice of Carrera Subway ebike and Carrera Crossfire ebike, the Subway is a 27.5" wheeled mountain bike with rigid steel forks and thick profile tyres and the Crossfire is a 700c hybrid with less thick tyres but front suspension. Many people are drawn instinctively to the Crossfire because of the suspension but when people try both bikes they find the Subway more comfortable and enjoyable and the Subway is the lighter bike because it hasn't wasted about 2kg of bike weight on front suspension. It is also requires less maintenance and is much stronger and safer and has the ability to safely take heavier riders.
Lets also not forget suspension seals aren't perfect, they can often let in water slowly and corrode the stanchions from within if you ride in rain, they need frequent inspection and maintenance to make sure they are working well and safe. Suntour forks can be difficult to get spares and its an extra expense in both money and time plus you need to buy the grease although admittedly petroleum jelly from poundland is pretty good as substitute for cheapskates but if you don't go down that route you'll need the proper grease which is more expensive and a suntour tool to access the internals or of course you can pay your bike shop to do it for you which could be part of the annual service for the bike if you do that.
If you ever get the chance to test ride both a Carrera Subway and a Crossfire then it's worth doing, it might give you a different perspective but make sure you do the tire pressure so its ideally matched to your weight to give the right suspension effect from the tyres.
