OP has 2.5 MM on AA and has never seen ATC restrictions applied, especially in Northern California? Is the luckiest person around.
Absolutely routine for traffic management programs to be imposed and very much the norm for those to be lifted early if they can be. The second the carrier receives the clearance, the aircraft is loaded and you are off.
Up to you if you want to wander, but you do so at your own peril.