I feel like they'd be more convenient for me because I am so forgetful that it's now been over a month since I've taken my HRT, and my prescription lapsed with 5 months worth of refills remaining.
What should I be aware of, other than the cost difference?
Sometimes they feel itchy. Some people get a reaction to the adhesive. I found it was better for me than taking all the oral estradiol twice a day. Apparently, they're associated with lower risk of estradiol complications (like clots etc) but the research I saw chalked that up to lower and more stable doses, I dunno. It's probably not worth switching JUST for that.
Oral estradiol does have a risk of clots and liver damage. It's not as bad as synthetic estrogens, but it's still there because all estrogens are subject to a strong first pass metabolism with lots of thrombogenic metabolites, meaning that most of the stuff gets broken down into clot-causing stuff when you take it orally and it has to pass through the liver first before it enters your bloodstream.
You simply don't have any of that with patches, gels or injections.
Also, from what I've read it only increases your risk to normal cis female level lol
I actually doubt it's even that. The increased clot risk in cis women is mostly due to some contraceptives - these are usually snythetic estrogens taken orally. Apart from that, AFAB individuals are only at a higher risk of thrombosis when they're in the phase of the cycle where estradiol and progesteron take a sudden nosedive - that's something that just doesn't apply the same way in a trans woman on HRT, which normally means much more even hormonal levels.