pxlkng there are many users who prefer getting notified of updates before completing them manually which the app provides.
The same apps downloaded from both sources verify in AppVerifier which (generally) proves their authenticity.
In my case only one app has network access, but is heavily restricted to minimize the amount of tracking, which many users of Play Store tend to rather neglect because the claimed security of Play Store allows them to let their guard down. Oftentime it is not where we get the app from if we don't allow it a lot of access while preserving their functionality and for that purpose everyone needs to choose their sources wisely.
The only downside I can think of when it comes to Aurora is app compatibility in terms of fulfillment of requirements only available when using Play Services.
I understand that my setup is simple and can't be generally applied, but I feel you can't have the last word on this because it may hurt less knowledgeable users.