I wouldn't say it's worth it unless you like messing about with such things, but shaving the braces might help some. Most such mandolins are overbraced in my experience, and though exceedingly difficult to do interior work on without removing the back, rewarding to actually do the work. Even so, you might only get the experience rather than the chop you are after, since it depends on so many other variables too.

Eastman, Gibson A9 & F9, Weber, Breedlove et al, would be better way to start, but shop around. Shop around a lot. Then shop around some more. A trip to a good shop with several kinds/brands is a real education...like Elderly.

Last week I played a Gibson A9 that just bowled me over with woody tone and sustain...half decent chop too...now, what to trade, what to trade?

Peace, Mooh.