I'm not sure why being based in AUS is hurting the discussion, can you please elaborate? I'm also based in AUS, and I don't see any issues with flying or crediting to AA.

Last year was the first year that I made EXP on AA. I had been PLT on AA since the merger and was various levels on US/HP for the ~10 years prior to that, including CP (US's version of EXP). When I was somewhere between 80 and 85,0000 miles I received a buy-up offer from AA to EXP (I think the cost was around $2000), but I was in the middle of a trip and the remainder of my miles posted which brought me to over 100,000 on my own.

As a regular reader of the forum, I see users post about having EQD exceeding $15,000 and still being PRO; I think there may be some who have EQD over the EXP threshold who are only PLT. If EXP means that much to you, there are plenty of mileage run opportunities out there (but as time ticks away so do those opportunities). Otherwise, enjoy the PRO status.