The main difference I see here, though, is that the previous offers came out targeted, people who knew they weren't targeted signed up, and they were denied.
In this case a non-targeted offer (except for being a non-elite) came out and people signed up. At that time, they were ostensibly eligible, even if AA had intended to target.
This may well (and probably should) be handled differently.
AA made a non-purposeful mistake without the intent to deceive. How it should (and will) be handled is up to it. The talk of rights and obligations is therapeutic but not much more than that.