Really appreciate all of your encouraging feedback!
Will now just keep checking as each date opens...4 AM seems to be a good time for newly-released awards!!!
Thanks for the reminders about the change/cancellation fees, but my trip insurance will cover those just in case.
(The RT EWR-TXL Polaris fares have been very reasonable lately, so I had been thinking of paying for the ticket and saving my miles for another trip...but see that 2020 fares on that route have gone back up.)