switching from AAR to CM reading lessons?

I am about halfway through AAR level 1 with my 6 year old. I also alternate with “sight word lessons” by reading Dick and Jane readers every other day. He seems to like both. But a Charlotte Mason approach to reading lessons really makes sense to me (hence, the reason why I alternate between strictly phonics and sight words). However, he is my first child that I’ve taught to read so I lack confidence. I feel like the “measure of success” in homeschooling (by the onlooker) is how well they read (at least in the beginning). I like the simplicity and ease of use AAR (I also don’t use it completely as scripted), but I would prefer eliminating “twaddle”. On the other hand, I feel like the practice with their readers gives him confidence in his reading ability. Soo……just wondering if anyone else has made the switch from AAR to CM style reading lessons and how did it go? I would probably finish this level and maybe see how it goes in the summer with CM reading lessons. I also feel like CM lessons would take a little more time to prepare, but I wonder if they would be more interesting for him. Any thoughts?