Wait until it's a year old, then downgrade when the AF hits, or see if they give you a retention offer. Doing a PC after a year would not cause Amex to claw back a bonus, and it's doubtful they would actually do that with a non-Membership Rewards-earning card. Better yet, let's figure out a way for you to take a Delta flight to use your upcoming free SPG night. 
@K-in-Boston wrote:Wait until it's a year old, then downgrade when the AF hits, or see if they give you a retention offer. Doing a PC after a year would not cause Amex to claw back a bonus, and it's doubtful they would actually do that with a non-Membership Rewards-earning card. Better yet, let's figure out a way for you to take a Delta flight to use your upcoming free SPG night.
Yeah, If they would give me a 35K+ for 1k spend, i'd keep it as a gold. SPG night? That would be nice, but unfortunately my anv for SPG isnt till Dec, so i'm not sure if i would get a bonus night till then.
@wasCB14 wrote:Assuming the AF is waived the first year, there's really no reason to want to downgrade before the end of the first year. It would be pretty inefficient to downgrade early, then find yourself flying Delta and needing to pay for a checked bag.
Granted, that may not be a concern for you. I sometimes need to book travel on fairly short notice.
In the last 10 years, i have flown once. My company paid for that, so i didnt even have to use my card and be reimbursed for it 
This is a perfect time to start flying, then. You made it as far as getting a cobranded Delta card that at least offers you some perks, next step is book something! You still have MRs from your ED and Starpoints from your SPG, too?
@K-in-Boston wrote:This is a perfect time to start flying, then. You made it as far as getting a cobranded Delta card that at least offers you some perks, next step is book something! You still have MRs from your ED and Starpoints from your SPG, too?
I currently have 36k skymiles, and 13k MR.. i dont have many starpoints unfortunately since i wasnt able to hit the spend bonus when i got the card it's a whopping 492 points lol
As for the SPG night, yes it'll be awarded on your anniversary. 35,000 is enough to book the Delta Hotels (highly suggest staying there, BTW) three blocks from the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I'm going to go the Willy Wonka schoolteacher route again. I can't do anything with 492 Starpoints, so let's assume you have 492,000...
Seriously, though, between the MRs and SkyMiles, you should be able to get just about anywhere in North America and perhaps Europe during a sale.