errr...so by that reckoning noone would ever travel MAN-ZRH-MIA, or MAN-DXB-CPT, or MAN-FRA-SFO...because they are pretty much detours too.
As for LIS, plenty of passengers fly with BA from LIS-LHR-LAD, LIS-LHR-GIG etc etc
The argument that to fly two hours or so in the opposite direction to connect to a flight going in the other direction is a non-starter is simply wrong.