I spend 40K+ a year on AAk, almost exclusively international business class. I don't track EQM or EQS, I just book the flights I need. I would believe that AA is looking for EXPs with spending characteristics similar to mine rates than yours.
Quite honestly I am conflicted about people who are able to "game the system" to get EXP for very little. I admire their ingenuity but hate that I a competing against them with my SWUs.