Can you please where you see this in the fare rule? I am very familiar with AA's rebooking and reissue policies and that's not a feature I've seen with any of their fares. Other carriers do have that provision and it is always explicitly stated in the rule.

Edited to add:
Below are current cancel/change provisions per Sabre for this fare for travel commencing 20NOV (I suspect the refundability provision has changed since the OP purchased the fare)--this is consistent with most AA fares. As long as passenger is not a "no show", ticket value is preserved for future travel.

CANCELLATIONS

ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/
REFUND.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/
OR A TRAVELING COMPANION/THE SERVICE CHARGE MAY
BE WAIVED OR THE TICKET REFUNDED.
VISIT AA.COM FOR DETAILS.
------------------------------------------------
FOR TRAVEL AGENCY BOOKINGS MADE IN MEXICO / THE
CARIBBEAN / CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA - AA WILL
ASSESS A USD 50.00 FEE ON ANY UNTICKETED
RESERVATION NOT CANCELLED BEFORE DEPARTURE.
------------------------------------------------
WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES
THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE OF EACH CANCELLED
PRICING UNIT APPLIES
-WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION-
WHEN COMBINING A REFUNDABLE FARE WITH A NON-
REFUNDABLE FARE
THE ENTIRE PRICING UNIT WILL BE NON-REFUNDABLE.
------------------------------------------------
TICKET HAS NO VALUE UNLESS TICKETED FLIGHTS ARE
CANCELLED PRIOR TO TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME.

CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
A CHANGE IS A ROUTING / OR DATE / OR FLIGHT
MODIFICATION.
CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF
ORIGINAL TICKET.
TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED FOR ALL VOLUNTARY
CHANGES.