I am a bit put off by this switch. AA's lifetime program was the most attractive of all rewards programs. It was made much more accessible than regular BIS lifetime programs.
Now people who would normally never qualify for this program if it relied solely on BIS miles may switch carriers. I guess they want to reward the people who actually fly. In essence creating a chasm in the 1st tier lifetime elite levels without having to create an elite tier above EXP. They just made it harder to get lifetime status instead which I can understand makes more business sense for AA. Just not for me.
I wish I could have acheived lifetime status before the changes but now there is no shot of that happening.