I get that EQM's are mainly for status, but are they and "normal miles" one and the same? If I book a trip from, say, LAX to NRT for 5500 miles do I get 5500 normal, redeemable miles and 5500 eqm, non-redeemable miles?

I guess I'm confused, because the "status" benefits aren't of real importance to me, because I don't fly that much. But I am interesting in accumulating miles through credit cards, transferring them to UA and then flying for free on vacations.