I never use the open toe foot. It's too easy for it to catch on things. It might seem a bit more work to get the top thread pulled through, but just take one stitch and move it and pull the threads and you are good to go.
With the conversion kit, you then have the option of using several different feet - not just the open toe.
I thought mine came with both the open and closed toe before conversion, but I may be mixed up between that and my first machine that only came with the open toe foot. Since I now have no interest in the open toe, I may not remember correctly. Will have to look when I get home.