One disadvantage of hoping for E if you are "near" 35,000 is that it will not happen until after everyone else is taken care of, which from my experience may be late in Feb (if at all).
They also have a habit of leaving status lowering until late (ie, SE to E) on the assumption that you might miraculously go out on Dec and rack up 65,000 miles. I found that a nuisance the year it happened to me, because I did not get certs etc until well after I expected them.