I've had a few harvests..... and curing makes a HUUUUUGE difference for me. And I particularly know because I usually sample mine daily from day one, through the full cure and it becomes noticiably different over time. I would say in my experience, at the end of that FIRST WEEK OF ACTUAL CURE is when it becomes worthy of even thinking about using.
Btw I usually dry for two weeks, which is right at the time the smaller stems FIRST CRACKS, then cure in jars burping jars at least once a day. And every other day, I pull all the buds out, and put them back in reverse order.
Weird thing is, I always quick dry some, and it usually mostly sucks. I mean you can tell that it's herb, it's just not really pleasurable. And the whole time I'm thinking I"m going to have a batch of week herb...... but it always gets awesome!!!