There are all kinds of cheap-o domestic awards which are well worth the 25k miles.

For example, if you need an open-jaw ticket, the price can skyrocket quickly as you're basically paying for 2 one-way tickets. I got a domestic award for YYZ-BOS-JFK, for which the cheapest advanced purchase ticket is well over $450. That's value.

A domestic award is also a great value if you need a stopover. A cheap-o ticket wouldn't allow it.

I enjoy burning my miles for long haul international first too, but these little domestic awards are a much better value/$$.