Okay sure, I will be less blanketed. Upgrades on routes between midsized/major US airports on 73Xs and 319-321s are more myth than fact. If the flight is during the workweek and during the daylight, maybe a CK or high EQD ExPlat has a shot at the maybe 1 open seat. Weekends or weekdays late at night -- upgrades are doable if you are a ExPlat. If you fly those local regional flights on CRJ-700/900 or ERJ-175 with an F cabin (which are outsized compared to the main cabin), I am sure upgrades on those short hops are no problem for a broad swath of elites.

I agree, and I need AA to be strong because if they cut back, my local service will likely cease, and the convenience of that service means a lot to me. But, on my last trip, I couldn't even pay cash for a first class DFW-MSP seat for Wednesday when I was booking two days before the flight (though, one seat opened up the morning of which allowed the one upgrade to clear as I indicate above where I was 3rd of 12). I was hoping to buy F for the ability to better get work done (and last minute F isn't much more than last minute Y anyways). Nor could I find a first class ticket that went DFW-ORD-MSP for that day (because of the DFW-ORD segment). If I left Tuesday, there was only 1 F seat open on any route that came up from SWO-MSP. For my Friday return, the only F availability was for a ~5:30AM flight from MSP-DFW or the mid-morning flight through chicago as well (which was the one I took).

I've only been platpro since my challenge period started in May, and since this last bout of extra unexpected travel came to pass, I will end up meeting the challenge and be Plat Pro until Jan 2020. My bet is that my upgrade % when all is said and done will come to 0-5%.