utcork,
If you look around the DL forum, one of the biggest complaints is the lack of low tier award tickets in many cases - it is probably the chief complaint on the forum next to SWU redemption. That said, DL revenue tix, even the lowest fare buckets earn 100% mileage credit - AF/KL's FlyingBlue program does not.
I think you may be best going with AS miles as AS may better fit with your AA travels.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a loyal DL flyer, but sometimes it just does not make sense. Also, I have had decent luck redeeming miles - 25k-32.5k domestic - but international tix can be really insane especially in comparison to what I've heard about AA.

robin