I edited it to add a second example, but I'll break it down for you.
MCO-SFO, Orlando to San Francisco. United offers a nonstop, but I hate United, so they aren't an option.
American, who I'm loyal to can do it with one stop, or I can pay $20 more in airport taxes and milk the system for more miles.
So first thing tuesday morning, I'm taking the 6:15am Orlando-Miami nonstop (RIP, stupid route cancellations). 45 minutes after landing, I'm on the Miami-Raleigh/Durham nonstop. 60 minutes after landing, I'm on my way to Chicago via Dallas/Fort Worth. 90 minutes later and 1 stop for lunch I'm en route to Seattle. 45 minutes later, I'm in Orange County/John Wayne Airport, and 30 minutes later, I'm on a lil regional jet to San Francisco. I land at 11:30pmish Pacific Time. Approximate travel time, 17 hours, 15 minutes. More than 3 times the time a sensible person would spend on the United nonstop, which would undoubtedly have gotten you the whole way safely (seriously, ask a United flight attendant for a glass of water, and they will answer "We are here for your safety, not your comfort or convenience"), but nothing more.
The TPA-SAT routing wasn't as lengthy (departed at 730am, landed at 830pm Central Time), but still
pointless to anyone except me and a few others