It depends so much on the individual.

How often do you travel, and what the perks are worth to you.

How much of a difference do you see between life as a Gold and Platinum?
When you say you get upgraded pretty often anyway, I assume you mean you "were" getting upgraded as Gold, correct?

In regards to hoping they will extend your year being short - I would say you have a close to zero chance (unless you know someone...).

Perhaps if you had been Platinum for years and were caught short this time round, but you were on a "trial" bases anyway.