Confused about switching from §18b to EU Blue Card vs staying and applying for permanent residence

Hi everyone,

I’m currently living in Germany and I’m a bit unsure about the best path regarding my residence permit and I would really appreciate some advice from people with similar experience.

Here is my situation:
I came to Germany in October 2022 on a work visa and currently hold a §18b Abs. 1 residence permit (skilled worker with university degree).
I have been working continuously for the same employer since I arrived.
My initial salary was below the EU Blue Card threshold, but I have been promoted internally and now earn enough to pass this threshold.

My current permit expires in October 2026, so I will need to either renew or change my status before then.
I already had my university degree recognized via ANABIN when I first applied.

Now I’m trying to decide what makes more sense:
Option 1: Renew and Stay on §18b and later (once I have B1 certificate) apply for Niederlassungserlaubnis
Since I’ve already been in Germany since 2022 and have stable employment, I might be on track for permanent residency through the standard route.
Option 2: Switch to EU Blue Card
Since I now meet the salary requirement, I could switch to a Blue Card. I’ve heard this can potentially speed up the path to permanent residency (21–27 months depending on German level), but I’m not sure how my previous years under §18b would count.

My confusion:

Does it make sense to switch to the Blue Card this late (after already living here for ~4 years by 2026)?
Or would I basically “reset the clock” and lose time toward permanent residency?
In practice, which option is faster/simpler for getting Niederlassungserlaubnis?

Any experiences or advice would be really appreciated, especially from people who changed from §18b to Blue Card after already working in Germany for a few years.

Thanks a lot!