Nothing wrong with using Gear Down, in my opinion. 737 nose gear extends rearward so it isn't having to work any harder.
I was always taught (possibly wrongly in this enlightened age of CRM...) that the speedbrake is for pussies.
Maybe passengers being reminded they are in an airliner, not a library or a cafe, isn't a bad thing. A lot of people treat the experience with contempt or indifference rather than as something which can potentially kill them if something goes wrong (eg attention to safety briefs, standing in turbulence, etc).
A passenger hearing the LG extend and suddenly remembering he's in an aircraft doesn't bother me.