The two are orthogonal. There was a reason AA had a policy of soft landings, and there is a reason they've stopped. Presumably both reasons had to do with a calculation as to the value of a customer. For example, consider someone who used to fly a lot and earned PLT or EXP but was sick or jobless or had a new baby or for whatever reason went through a patch of no flying. If the person continues not flying (or not flying AA), then the cost to AA of extending GLD or PLT for a year is minimum. If the person does start flying again, AA would rather they remain loyal to AA and retaining some status helps that. On the other hand, AA doesn't want to encourage alternate-year flying or other strategies by which someone consumes more benefits then they are worth.

Likewise, there are reasons for AA to notify people whose flying has decreased that they need to start flying again or take advantage of the bump (if eligible).