I can't speak for AA in particular, but some years ago I was in a long-distance commuting relationship and my now-ex was flying AC every weekend from a US airport using United contract personnel. If they had merely been uncaring it would have been a major step up from their actual attitude.

Those of us who are frequent fliers know how to handle IRROPs, and the main thing we know is to not reply on the airline but to be proactive. We also know that we have way more options in Mx situations than Wx.

I was in an IRROPs situation a couple of weeks ago. Flying LAX-LAS, they were one FA short. I didn't follow the entire progression, but I think they first were trying to call one in locally, then they said they had one flying in from another location. They did update us about every 30-40 minutes (the total delay was about two hours), and also did assure us that the rest of the crew wasn't going to time out. They claimed that they had ordered some drinks and snacks, but they never arrived and I picked up a rumor that they were delivered to the wrong gate.

I think IRROPs are pretty much hit or miss for any carrier. I look at them as an opportunity, as you eventually did. A few months ago I was flying LAS-CLT-PHL with a lousy seat. There was bad weather coming in, but it was going to hit New England on Friday and come down to the mid-Atlantic by Saturday. I was flying Thursday night, but used the opportunity to switch to a nonstop with a much better seat.

I'm certainly not saying I don't care about the people who don't know how to fend for themselves and wind up much worse off than they have to be. I try to help them out when I can. But your first obligation is to protect yourself, not to count on the airline to do it for you.