I did not fly on AA at all in 2020 or 2021. Since my husband and I will be moving from DL territory (NYC) to AA territory (PHX), I secured status based on CC spend by shifting spend from our Delta Amex to our AA MC over the last month or so. It was money we were spending one way or the other, so it made no difference to us.

TBH, I have no idea whether low status (gold) on AA will make any difference at all in our travel experience. It has been years since we have flown AA (our last flight was a one-way JFK to LHR in J in October 2019). My feeling has always been that there is nothing low-level elite status gives you that buying a premium ticket (or even having access to the Admiral's Club) won't give you. I just don't know. Anyhow, here's to new things at AA, right?