With thanks to all the replies to my original question, I booked the tickets on AA.com, but did not use any FF# (including my empty AAdvaantaage aacount). Then, during an off-peak time of the week, I called AA and asked the reservationist to add my AS Mileage Plan number to my various PNR's.

At check-in (used kiosk because again, on-line check-in requires use of the AAdvaantaage number which I am trying to avoid) I am displeased to find no FF# on my thermal-printed BP, but later at the gate, I got moved to a seat with an empty seat next to it, I got a BP issued on the cardboard ARC stock, and *it* had my AS number on it.

And lo-and-behold, within a couple of weeks of travel, my miles (times 2!) are safely in my Mileage Plan account.

Thanks again to all! ^