Yep, that's been my experience also...go back to the airport and talk to the folks in the AA baggage office. Good luck!

Did you have any travel insurance? If I use Amex to buy an airline ticket, I get something like $1000 of baggage insurance automatically...might be worth looking into.

Those are very big in the scuba world, and are awesome, IMO. They're heavy, is the only thing. Try StormCase: same durability, less weight. http://www.stormcase.com