At what price point? If you're lucky enough to find a 25k AA seat that's not bad but at 50k points the cash equivalent is getting up near list price. And with Avios you pay "first" rates so 50k for saver level inventory IIRC. To say nothing of the fact that the VAST majority of travelers pay for flights with cash, not points.

This is a move to pick up VX pax who don't want the AS product or some AS regulars looking for a true premium offering on transcons.

As for PDX, the market there is smaller. I'd love to see Mint there, too, and I'd bet PDX is a stronger case than SMF or maybe even LGB. But still not there yet.