Actually, the AA gift card only recently stopped working a few months ago (has worked previously to that), with certain restrictions (just like the Delta ones and the United "workaround", etc.)
However, *technically* gift cards from any airline shouldn't work, so I wouldn't count on that as the main reason for the card as it could end at any time. Personally I wish Amex was more like Chase in the "travel credit", but whatever. I just count myself lucky that the gift cards do work with the various airlines/workarounds at this time.
Also, Amex is going to rename the card again to Surpass to avoid the confusion (ha!).