[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

Depending on your circumstances you may STILL be able to make use of those AA miles WITHOUT that batch of miles you paid for.
Joining ONE hotel "frequent stay" program might be worthwhile if your plans include stays in hotels, AND your itinerary includes cities where you have NOT, already, paid a non-refundable hotel deposit. I belong to Hilton's "Hilton HHonors" program. AA's frequent flyer program allows you to transfer miles to the "frequent stay" programs of certain hotel chains. I believe Hilton is a participating chain. As I recall, transfers must be in units of 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Usually, the number of "frequent flier" miles will be doubled after they are converted into hotel "points." Also there may be a limit on the number of miles you can transfer within a given year. However, it's important to clarify two things:
(1) How long will it take for your miles to be credited to the given "frequent stay" program? (2) Does the given hotel chain have availability, for "frequent stay" usage, at the location you want to stay at?
Around 30,000 to 50,000 hotel "points" are required for ONE night free. Most "frequent stay" programs allow "points" to be used at all properties within the given chain. Thus, Hilton "points" can be used at Hilton, Doubletree, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, etc. Finally, Hilton (and probably other hotel chains) allow "award" reservations on-line.