I have used avast for awhile. Is antivirus software worth in stalling and what are the good ones out there?

This is for personal use.

Yes, Windows Defender is all you need for personal use. Maybe use Malwarebytes every once in a while to scan for Malware.

Anything else is a waste of money.

Make sure you are always running your Windows updates.

Not in IT so that is kind of what I had noticed over the last 3 years or so. That antivirus software had become redundant bloat ware.

Any counter argument to this?

I don't know of one from a consumer level. You would probably only hear one from someone trying to sell you something.

Now, if you're talking commercial/enterprise, there are so many more security protocols you need to have in mind, so you need to invest in a full EDR or MDR solution, among many other solutions in your cybersecurity stack.

Honestly, your biggest threat is the same as it has always been... doing stupid things.

Don't open emails if you don't know where they came from or are not expecting them. Don't open files in said emails. Don't download things from untrusted websites. Don't ever use a USB thumb drive if you didn't buy it yourself from a legit retailer.

Hell, your bluetooth being "On" on your phone is a bigger risk to your security than anything, for someone who knows what they're doing.