Not necessarily; in theory, yes, but in reality it really depends where you're flying. You could make the move to just jump on LCCs as the local Korean and other Asian ones have significantly expanded routes. There's also the new Air Premia, Zip Air. I don't fly to Europe much, and Korean Air tickets to the US tend to carry such a premium (also the only nonstop to my hometown in DC), so I always fly a one stop flight when going to see family.

But yes, I do totally understand the idea behind that.