Awaken - Worth a CR Bump?

[Jhaelen]

Um, no. You need to reread.

I said, "Note that the elite array, in itself, doesn't increase the CR; it's a side benefit of the class levels, which do increase the CR."

Then you posted the exact rule I was paraphrasing:

"+1 CR: Monster’s ability scores based on elite array (Do not apply this increase if you advance a monster by class levels. Monsters advanced by class levels are assumed to use the elite array.)"

Which is what I said.

Except it isn't. This is an XOR condition, you either increase the CR because of elite stats or because of adding class levels. Trying to paraphrase it more correctly:
"The elite array, in itself, DOES increase the CR UNLESS it's a side benefit of adding class levels."

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Except it isn't.

You, also, need to re-read.