<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Efrem:
However, you can exchange your upgrades for miles, assuming you meet whatever criteria AA is applying at that moment, and then purchase any you want to use.</font>
This may be difficult to do over and over. I believe one of the criteria is supposed to be that your travel pattern is such (i.e., mostly international travel) that you have difficulties using the upgrades you earn. Now, if you purchase upgrades and use them how can you (credibly) argue that you can't use the upgrades you earn?