My father did a max commute - it meant he could pay off his by now ex, my Mum, without selling the house!
He had a nice line in being a miserable Lancastrian, and had stats that the majority of RN officers drew their pension for seven years, so he reckoned he'd rather have it now than leave it in HMG's bank for later.
He was nearly right - he died aged 69 and 11 months, and so he benefited on the deal. He also had the knowledge that no man in his family line had lived to seventy.
If you think you'll live to 100, then I'd suggest leaving it all in the pot.