This is the master thread for the buy back program at the end of 2017 for the 2018 program year. There many data points in here where the FF had plenty of EQD for EXP, but not the miles. Most posts have the buy up offer they received from AA as well. There is no guarantee it will work the same way this year.

Program Year 2018 Elite Status Buy back / Buyback / Renew / Boost (master thd) .

It did seem to me that they penalized you more for not making the miles more than they did for not making EQD. That is, people who were a bit short on EQD got more attractive offers than those who had plenty of EQD but were short miles. I would have thought it would go the other way.