As other flyers have probably been noticing.. the Airlines.. not only AA, have been on a constant downhill slope in terms of the care of all passengers, but more so their elite flyers.
I, remember a time, when PLT was the highest published level that I knew off, and the AA actually had PLT spots/offices at the DFW airport, where even for a minor delay in travel resulted in
food coupons that amounted to a lot of money (used them to clear out cookies at the airport for my daughter ) and you kind of felt nice about flying.
These days, oh well.. you are just another passenger on a plane, and its not the staff at AA, its the management.

on side note: when flying on BA, even when I was sitting in Coach.. I always got group 1 boarding
on AA has a EXP if not in first.. then group 2... that sucks.. I want group 1 boarding back