I can't think of any AA flyers I know here in the Bay Area that do 100K of mileage runs-- many of us mix mileage runs with our regular travel so we make the 100K and get the benefits at that level. I'm flying to Seoul next month and the EXP upgrades will make a difference, just as they did for Madrid last month. To me the value is there. I've been 1K or EXP for probably 16-17 years now and have always done mileage runs. In fact, I'm in the SFO AC right now having done an overnight trip to Tampa.

You might have had a small group making the move from other carriers when TEQM was in play two years ago, where you could make EXP flying 33,334 miles on selected routes. Those were pure mileage runners with a goal in mind. I find it hard to imagine there's a large quantity doing 100k of actual flying to retain status just on mileage runs.

Should add I did run into a Delta flyer at the AC in PHL last week who had 6 China trips booked. Don't think AA is comping in Delta flyers like UA 1K flyers so maybe his goal was to get the AA miles out of the way.