There are two separate issues here. First, if you booked a trip all the way to SXM, it doesn't matter what the cause of the delay is, AA still has to get you to your final destination. If you booked two separate tickets, on two separate airlines, one to CLT and one from CLT to SXM, all bets are off. They don't have to give you anything, because you are a no-show. So, in this circumstance, because everything was booked on AA, they still have to get you to SXM. However, if you miss your connection and it means that you have to spend the night somewhere on the way down (or back) they may not pay for your hotel, if they can blame the delay on weather or air traffic control issues, etc.

The moral of the story is that, if you end up taking a risk on that short connection, be aware of what your options are, to try to get you to SXM the same day, INCLUDING on other airlines. With AA, if you miss a connection, often you can get them to put you on another airline, if you can talk to someone reasonable and YOU provide them with the alternative routing. And you will usually be more successful to do that by calling AA directly yourself, and don't wait in the 100 person long line, to try to get re-booked.

AA personnel are NOT going to know what other airlines' schedules are, that would allow you to get there the same day. (If you're on Spirit or Frontier, something like that, forget it, they will NEVER put you on another airline!) AA personnel are going to automatically default to when the next AA flight is that will get you to the destination. That is usually going to involve an overnight. And if it involves an overnight, if you want them to pay for it, you're probably going to have to wait in that 100 person long line, or just go to the hotel yourself, keep your receipt and hope they pay for it afterward.

Either way, it's a crap shoot. Ain't travelling fun these days???