Its not a question of whether they are cumulative but whether a current EP who doesn't requalify for EP for 2010 can get anything out of this. It would seem not although no-one in this thread has clearly answered that.

GUWonder's post that you quote clearly answers it but seems to be contradicted in his post immediately prior where he states "You got it" in response to this statement "I think that all that matters is at the end of the year, how many EQMs you have. If it's 75k-99,999, you're PLT, and get the PLT bonus"

I suppose I am looking for something out of this that just isn't there

As a current EP with 33000 EQMs this year reaching 40000-49999 EQMs will get me nothing. Reaching 75000-99999 EQMs will get me nothing. Reaching 100000 EQMs will get me EP for another year and reaching 125000 EQMs will get me that and 2 EP rewards. These last two scenarios are too hard to achieve. So I'll just have to accept that AA doesn't love me any more.

The 40000-49999 and even the 75000-99999 EQMs would be doable but it would be totally discretionary travel. So as there is no benefit, I'll exercise my discretion and not travel.