IAD is about as close to a 'home' airport as I get, and a EXP membership should not be undervalued. The AA staff at IAD is small, and you will very quickly make yourself memorable (and the favors it entails) being an EXP based there.

OTH there are gobs of 1K's floating around IAD every day...and while I consider my 1K card (re-upped for both it and practically worthless DL PM by the middle of this year) my most 'useful' airline membership, I am REALLY looking forward to finally hitting EXP on AA this year.

I have seen many examples of AA really making a fuss over EXP (especially at small stations) and many UA agents (especially in RCC's) also will 'perk up' a little. I won't even bother discussing 'top tier' at the home of SGB.