I couldn't bait @mjmauboussin into an answer, so I will take a try myself. All thing being equal, pushing out depreciation schedules is negative, not positive. This answer says it "lowers" cost. Cash cost remains the same. It's just a non-cash accounting change. Why negative then? It lowers earnings quality. If FCF > net income, that's better for earnings quality. Pushing out depreciation increases net income with no increaase in cash flow. Hence, FCF relative to net income drops. As such, earnings quality drops. This is regardless of whatever the "appropriate" schedule should be.