Just spotted this thread. I've done a bunch of these flights in various combinations.
Hardly worth doing a LONEx. The real savings come in J (as a DONEx) and F (AONEx). Starting out of (say) JNB and booking via AA saved me a tonne of dough on my last one a couple of years ago. Save the last leg(s) to fly in to start off the next one within 12 months. Repeat annually.
Grab those six flights in North America, and fly them in the longest possible sectors on two-class aircraft (737 and 757) where J maps into F. Granted, American Airlines domestic First is pretty much just Business, but it's those First SC and cabin bonuses that make these legs worthwhile.
And then I come home from JFK-SYD as one leg, even though the flight refuels in LAX.
Done properly, a DONE4 will give you WP status.
The points flights (140K/280K etc.) are a different thing entirely, and often difficult to find a viable itinerary, given the restrictions. Not impossible, but just be prepared for a lot of dummy bookings as you work out your flights. I've done three of these, the second and third with my daughter and son respectively, getting two tickets for 140K each.
Thoroughly recommend the DONE4 product. It's a comfortable way of seeing the world and getting some decent status. I don't mind doing short legs in Y, but crossing oceans in J is vastly superior to doing it at the back of the bus.
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