"What is the advantage or disadvantage of naming my estate as the beneficiary of my IRA. I am over 72 and taking RMD distributions. I have no spouse or children. The IRA value is about 500k and my other assets are about 500k in investments and 500k in my residence."
You could avoid probate by designating a beneficiary for your IRA, having your house retitled to joint with rights of survivorship, and perhaps your other assets.
While you won't face a federal estate tax you might face a state estate tax (about 22 states have decoupled from the federal estate tax).