The 9-46 cassette is designed primarily for Shimano, I don’t know of anyone using it with a SRAM 11 speed derailleur, but YMMV. Also, if by extra $50 you mean buying an NX Eagle groupset vs the $250 for that cassette, you get what you pay for. There have been some great reviews out there demonstrating the differences between the Eagle groupsets showing the value proposition of each, bikepacking.com has a great article on it.
With all of that being said, my wife’s trail bike came specced with that cassette and an XT derailleur. Judging by her experience, when I get a new wheelset for my trail bike this year I plan to build it around an XD driver so that I can also use that cassette instead of the 11-46 I have now. She is able to run a slightly smaller chainring up front for a little better climbing gear and still able to keep up on the flats with that tiny 9 tooth ring.