Need advice on gutter cleaning and downspouts

[Adam Craig]

Is there any downside in cutting all my gutter down spots and running them away from the house with an extension piece instead of into the ground downspout?

All three of my properties have issues with clogged/bad downspots in the ground.

Also - How many times/ year do you get gutters cleaned....I am in the northeast so I am thinking twice a year but is that overkill?