As far as an official ROD goes, you're the man flying the plane, if you need to slow down do what you want and don't worry about being bullied by ATC into minimum ROD
You could always
talk to ATC . . . . Certainly within UK FIR's they expect a minimum of 500fpm minimum and 8000 fpm max either way. It's not about bullying, it's about planning . . . .