I’m not wrong. A CRBA is not required to get a passport and you are not required to get a CRBA.
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/events-and-records/birth.html
“According to U.S. law, a CRBA is proof of U.S. citizenship and may be used to obtain a U.S. passport and register for school, among other purposes.
The child’s parents may choose to apply for a U.S. passport for the child at the same time that they apply for a CRBA. Parents may also choose to apply only for a U.S. passport for the child. Like a CRBA, a full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is proof of U.S. citizenship.
Parents of a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen or citizens should apply for a CRBA and/or a U.S. passport for the child as soon as possible.”
I did not get a choice. I got both for my kids and had to get the Report of Birth Abroad before I could apply for their passports. Maybe the law has changed since then, but Cruz was born before my kids were.