There is more than enough adjustability in the EBB to not need a half-link if you would rather not.

Put on the larger cog. Then see if the old chain is long enough with the EBB all the way in the back of the BB shell. If yes, then done. If no, then add another link. There is something like an inch of variability in an EBB like that, which is about four times the adjustability needed for any gear combo with the closest chain length.

So, I would play with the EBB a bit more before moving on to other solutions.

jim