I would disagree, I'm seeing BKK-NYC flights round trip for a lot less than the MNL-NYC price. So if I can figure out a way to add a stopover, it could really save some cash, and get a quick or long layover in PH which I wouldn't mind. The last leg could even be throwaway. I had a look at a few combos with stopovers and couldn't sort out anything cheaper so maybe someone else can chime in with a different experience.

Also LCC doesn't include baggage and the like, so sometimes ends up being a lot more than sticking with a nice carrier like PH