I agree with pp--either open a no AF every day to keep your MR open if you're AF adverse...or down grade your gold to the green and save $100 if you don't want to pay the $250 AF. Or, if you have any sort of business or "business" then the Blue Business Preferred earns 2X on everything (up to $50K spend, annually) and has no AF-hard to beat and holds your MRs.
Now, my favorite topic, which I haven't expounded on here for a while...Why MRs are Completely Underrated by Most of the UR Fans of This Thread!
MRs transfer to SO many airlines!
If you're an American Airlines fan, you can use MRs via British Airways-I've flown my mother back and forth to her sister's in Phoenix, for example, using BA and there is often an MR transfer bonus (currently 30% until the end of the month!).
United has representation via the Star Alliance reps of AeroPlan (Air Canada), Singapore, and ANA. People who are comfortable booking with them get some great values and impressive redemptions. I'm more of a SkyTeam Alliance girl myself so...I do not (but it's very possible
).
I will acknowledge that Amex passes on the taxes and fees for transferring MRs to domestic carriers. That stinks, I get it...but they do set a maximum of $99 and it's only for Delta, Hawaiian and JetBlue transfers.
I've flown business class from the US to Dublin on Aer Lingus (EI), Delta (DL) to London, Edinburgh, Madrid (and other places I've forgotten), and first class to London on British Airways (BA) thanks to MRs.
Flying home, I've been on KLM out of Amsterdam and Air France out of Paris multiple times. Intra Europe, I've utilized EI, KLM, and AF as well as Iberia, all with the assistance of MRs. Granted, URs also transfer to these airline programs but the transfer bonuses are very generous and more frequent.
Hotel wise, MRs transfer to both Hilton, Choice, and Marriott and again, this is another place where the complementary aspect of overlapping programs with URs shines-often the bonus will follow (or precede) the UR bonus so if you're short a few Bonvoy points, it's possible to top off. If you're not a Hilton or Choice hotels fan, then I can't sell you on that program (I get it, I'm not).
In short, if you want international flights, MRs can get you there. If you are interested in flying to Hawaii, MRs can assist with that. If you want other domestic flights...ditto.
Hotels are also an option, as are topping off various and sundry programs. While the cashing out option isn't strong at all unless you hold the pricey Charles Schwab (or Morgan Stanley) personal platinum, there are still ways to find value with MRs.
I like to think of URs and MRs as complementary- not either/or, btw, working hand in hand to assist in more comfortable and frequent travel to places I've been and loved and enjoy returning or to far flung places I dreamed about long ago
Now stepping off my soapbox...it's been a while...