I don't quite get this 'dread' malarkey?!
Switching over to CMX shouldn't cause much of a headache. However, I wouldn't want to go back to v1 (assuming there wasn't a choice) I find that it runs far smoother than V1. It's easier to use. The UI is modern, and I can log in to that UI from any device on my home network, so it makes it easy if a tweak needs to be made.
I recommend upgrading it, rather than being stuck in the past.