There are literally ZERO bad things about having a flow, only good things.
If the flow is stopped it’s bexause mainline is shrinking or simply not hiring. If that’s true at American than whatever market forces driving that hypothetical outcome would also affect Delta and United. Therefore no one will be hiring and it wouldn’t matter if you had a flow or not.
While the flow may be 7-8 years away for a new hire today, it generates constant movement off of the top of the seniority list. This is the most important movement for a new hire. Constant upward movement.
And concerning pay, it will continue to go up at the AA WOs, it is only a matter of time.