That's basically what I said. O&D at CLT is lower than any other AA hub. It's main focus is on connecting passengers. Most of AA's other hubs can stand alone as O&D. I think me using the word megahub to describe the other big airports in the AA network was not the right term, though. They are large operations, and DFW is, of course, "mega" compared to CLT in terms of hub and O&D status.
I'm no longer a NYer. That being said, I prefer the vibe of connecting at JFK or MIA to an international flight -- nicer terminal, international flavor, Flagship Lounge -- to CLT. CLT on the other hand is an efficient hub for connecting and a better location for a connecting hub than MIA or JFK. This thread is on pulling back in NYC but I don't see CLT having a role in that. PHL though is obviously a threat.