I would say that it depends on your flight plans AFTER this next year. You have about 5 free domestic flights on UA/AA/NW/YX. If that is all the flying you are going to do, you won't earn much status.

There is certainly something to be said for cashing in miles and reducing your risk that someone might go bankrupt and not honor their miles any more.

On the other hand, if you are going to do enough flying to get to at least SILVER on one airline, you have to judge the value of some first class upgrades (more on NW than on UA).

It does seem that if you can't get Premier Exec 1K on UA, you don't get much from them.