Your question contains the answer in it
From a strictly mathematical standpoint AA is much much better than Matmid
Assuming you fly deep discount economy you need 14 yes 14, flights on ELAL as a matmid member to get a free ticket to NY. And assuming you take 2 trips a year that is 7 years if ELAL doesn't "retire" some points before that
On AA you need 7 1/2 flights on a carrier that gives you full miles like Turkish or SN even in discounted economy . Maybe Malev will also give it when they join up. Furthermore if you do a Platinum challenge and take the Turkish codeshare you can get Platinum after 1 1/2 flights ( assuming you do it within 90 days) and then the miles really pile up and the tickets come faster.

HOWEVER you said that going through Europe is not an option so the above is not relevant to you (but could be for other travellers) So you are stuck with either getting 50% AA miles on ELAL direct flights and then you are back to needing 15 flights or working only with ELAL
In your case I would stay with ELAL and hope that some short trips to Europe or the Far East will add to your point balance

As to your agent buying your miles, is that legal???