Hidden city (skiplag) ticketing is risky for several reasons, including but not limited to: contract violation, IRROPS concerns, possible legal action, forfeiture of rewards balance, claim for actual fare, etc.

All of that is invariably written about tickets paid for with $$$. Wondering if AA award hidden city ticketing is similarly risky.

With the understanding that award ticket cancellation, until time of departure, is fully acceptable to AA, how different is the risk assessment if the itinerary is purchased as 1 ticket (e.g. JFK-LAX-LAS) compared to 2 tickets (JFK-LAX and LAX-LAS) with cancellation of the 2nd ticket during the (ostensible) layover? Thank you.

(Question motivated by recent search for JFK-LAX-LAS Biz layflat where some dates display ~100,000 miles for JFK-LAX-LAS and 300,000 miles for JFK-LAX and that I travel JFK-LAX 2-4 times annually.)