I have been thinking a bit about this, and I have concluded that it might be economically efficient for me to buy an AONE or DONE (probably 3). Here is my thinking:

I am currently PLT on AA, have about 500,000 miles in the "bank," and spend, on average, about $2,100 a year in airfare/upgrade certs (including the occasional mileage run).

Year 1: I could use miles to get to some distant destination where the RTW fares are cheaper, and get, say, an AONE3 for about $8k. Then, over the course of the year, use that, plus an occasional purchased fare where it does not fit within the AONE scheme, to get EXP, plus another 200,000 or so miles. At the end of the year, fly back home from the distant destination with the back side of the miles ticket used to get there.

Year 2: I use my EXP status and the eVIP stickers to fly, upgraded, on just the flights I absolutely need, and forget about maintaining status. Meanwhile I earn another 100,000 or so miles.

Year 3: I drop back to PLT using the "soft landing" procedure, then use my 700,000 or so accumulated miles to fly F or J for the year.

Year 4: Repeat the 3-year cycle.

In this way, I'm probably spending an average of $9,000 over a 3-year period, or $3k a year, but flying mostly F or J, instead of the $2,100 a year I spend now. If I have the chance to purchase back status at the end of one of the years, then the 3-year cycle becomes a 4-year cycle, and I'm spending pretty close to what I'm already spending, anyway. I realize that airfares may rise over that time, so the actual numbers will be more, but that would be the case, and I would be spending more on travel, anyway, even if I did not pursue this strategy.

Is there anything else I'm missing? Is this similar to a strategy that some here are using?

Just considering my options. . .