Because in some cases, AA treats non-elites in the ultimate old school legacy carrier way. "Sit down, shut up, we'll get you there." As an elite, they've taken very good care of me.

Their corporate culture seems to be "we already have your money, we don't need to do more than the bare minimum to fulfull our end of the bargain, and you'll still come back either because you're an elite, or you book on price."