Um, how are time and money not meaningful reasons? I mean this in nicest way possible, but software engineering has very little to do with computer science.

We don't know if AA has a software release coming up with elite blocking put back in, and this may just be a stop-gap until that release. It doesn't make sense for AA to announce it if a return is planned, since any delays or cancellations will just re-enrage the elite community. Or it may be gone forever...but I doubt it, because it's a zero-cost benefit aside from the relatively small initial investment.

I also concur with those who say it doesn't seem to have mattered yet, since every mainline flight I've been on lately has been jam-packed.