Let me tell you where I am on this. I prefer to fly with the minimum number of stops, unless the stop over is somewhere where I want to stay for a day or 2. If it is, it makes the ticketing a lot easier. I'm just back from Thailand (LHR to BKK) and flew EVA Air as;
1. They offered non stop.
2. They have cheap premium economy.
3. The fare was £400 cheaper than BA who I fly the most.
4. I did not want to stop/stay over in the Middle East on this trip.
I am not prepared to lose 9 hours of my holiday by way of a stop over in a dismal airport somewhere in the Middle East to save £30 on an air ticket.
If travelling to Australia from London I fully appreciate that the aircraft will need to stop at least once for fuel etc. Last time I did that (25 years ago) the turn around was under 90 minutes at what is now Don Mueung airport in Bangkok (back then it was the international airport for Bangkok) and we were off again.
Whilst in Thailand I flew Air Asia who were fast, efficient and arrived early on 2 of the sectors and on time at the third destination (I visited multiple cities / beach destinations whilst on holiday).
I am not aircrew or a pilot, but I do fly a lot for work and pleasure!