I'll start down early if cruising above FL350 with 4nm/1000' before TOD. I find the NG tends to overspeed in the descent above FL350.
Well my point was that if you start down early but leave the jet to do what it is programmed to do you will end up back on the idle path anyway. If you want down early and to "stay" ahead of the path then the thrust levers need to be closed when the servos release i.e. THR HOLD. This applies to the Boeing crates I have flown anyway that does not include the 73NG btw.