How about speedbrakes?
If speedbrakes are used in decent, that means there is fuel wasted earlier in cruise, so if the decent is planned carefully and optimized, no speedbrake should be used.
This also increases comfort for your paying passengers, as it feels terrible in the cabin with speedbrakes extended. (IMHO)
I personally prefer to decent a bit early, there is always a chance for a nice shortcut and technically, it is much easier and safer to add a little thrust then destroying energy, be it altitude or speed, with extra track miles or speebrakes or some other manouvers.