I don't either. Here's a simple rule to help minimize your confusion: The multipliers have absolutely nothing to do with qualification for elite status.

If you fly exclusively paid F, you can achieve EXP in as little as 66,667 butt-in-seat miles thanks to the q-point system (1.5 q-point/mile). If you fly exclusively paid J, then you'd get there in 80,000 base flight miles (1.25 q-point/mile). If you only fly paid F and J, then you'd qualify somewhere between 66,667 and 80,000 base flight miles. Of course, if you have an AAirpass, then you get the miles/points of your guests, like FullFare does, thus substantially lowering the threshholds.

However, if you mix in a bunch of discounted fares with a couple of paid F or J, then you'd probably qualify based on 100,000 flown miles, because of the dilution from the .5 point/mile discount fare calculation. Discount coach fares tend to render the q-point system essentially meaningless and irrelevant for EXP qualification (alluded to in my earlier post above).

Along the way you might earn 300,000 or more total miles, thanks to the various bonuses and multipliers, but if you fly on discount fares, then get ready to sit for 100k miles (hey - that's only 200 segments on American Eagle).

You will probably get a double-upgrade long before AA hands out double qualifying miles again - last time it happened was the three weeks following the 5 minute pilot strike (Feb 1999?). If it does ever happen again though, don't let that opportunity get away. Double q-miles makes mileage runs very rewarding.