To return completely on topic: for me the exit row, GF, V-class availability for RFS, and extra Avios make combo worth spending a bit extra, but I have to know that I will be actually using the next year. For example I could not be bothered to chase GUF2 even though I was "only" ~250 TP away because I knew I would not have any use for it.
Also I already dropped once to Silver (

) and it did not hurt.
Probably because I requalified within the Gold card validity period.