We are using LoE and I have found that it was worth getting the phonogram cards. You can do without Doodling dragons but honestly my kids love it and ask to read it for fun. 2 of my kids like feeling the letters and 1 hates the feel of the sandpaper. Could they live without them? Yes,
but the program is designed to teach using many learning styles and tactile learning is a great way to reinforce what you are teaching. I also switched all the kids from manuscript to cursive and there was no problem. If anything their handwriting improved greatly. You could teach it with the teachers manual, student book and flash cards but all the extras are what makes it unique and adds to the intrest of the program.