I apologize if this sounds like a silly question.

I wasn't certain, so I contacted Continental this week and they confirmed that they had no record of me ever having a OP account before. I do understand that MP will automatically change my long-time MP number to a newly generated alphanumeric account "number" in late Q1, 2012. (After over 2 1/2 decades, I probably know my MP number better than any other "number" in my life, short of my phone number

The question: Other than getting a head start on memorizing a new ID, are there any advantages to starting a new One Pass account now, and then immediately linking it to my MP account? Or... any reasons not to start a OP account now?

My only flights on CO metal this year were booked through United.com on co-shared UA flight numbers, and all have already been credited to my MP account.