I get by quite well with US/AA in PHX, between normal biz/personal travel, with a few mileage runs per year.

Just because a MR doesn't begin/end at PHX doesn't mean you can't take advantage

Along with super cheap/mega mileage runs, I'll also do, "mini vacations," last year to ICN and early this year to SIN, staying 3 nights in each on pretty decent fares (about $800 each).

I took advantage of cheap PHL-BCN biz fares, and married it up with PHX-PHL using my credit card companion cert.

Possibilities are endless.

I prefer flying nonstop whenever I can for biz, and as few stops when traveling with my other half. I grew up in PA, and US has always had the best coverage there of any airline, hands down.