If you didn't want to work at AA why did you even apply? I did, it was a pretty involved app for someone who didn't want to work there.
A quick story. Several years ago I was wanting to apply to Airways. This was prior to announcing the merger with AA. A bunch of buddies talked me completely out of it, saying stuff like "US Airways will always be hiring/interviewing, focus your efforts elsewhere if you can't get on at another carrier like UAL, DAL, jetBlue, etc.". (This was in the time that their second year pay on the Airbus was $56/hr with crappy contract). One guy even lived in Dallas.
I listened and didn't apply. Fast forward a few months and the merger was announced. Those guys who did apply were called right at the beginning of a huge hiring wave. I, fortunately, did apply eventually but I was called a year later. ~300 guys were hired prior to me, which was huge, about 10% of the work force, and has had a huge impact on my QOL. Now, very few are even getting called to interview off the street. Those guys who didn't apply, who never got on with DAL and UAL, are still at the commuter or have moved on to some lower end carrier like Allegiant.
Keep in mind, during the 80's Delta was NOT the place to go. Guys turned them down or never applied because United, American, USAir, (yes!, USAir) etc. were the fast growing, well run companies during that time. USAir was putting guys in the F/O seat, Delta was putting guys into a stagnant FE position. Yet look how the tide has turned.
I would never let a bad experience with a recruiter sway me away from a career destination, personally. It's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. On a side note, on another site a guy had offers from AA and DAL and chose AA because of how he was treated during the interview process.