The majority of the cost of a warship is in the crew. So paying extra upfront for a minimally manned LCS makes more sense than a Frigate, for those jobs for which either one will do. .

Over the life of the vessel, yes. But up front the cost driver is the electronics, which is why you cannot purchase those vessels in sufficient quantities to make up for their deficiencies.

But I have an even cheaper solution. Gators can carry the same gear as the LCS for half the cost, if done in bulk.  So send a San Antonio class ship out loaded with manned and unmanned small craft to do boardings, special operations, surface warfare, anti-mine and anti-sub warfare all at once. Then when things quiet down, the ship can go back and pick up some marines.

There are definitely situations out there where the mothership concept needs be explored at least on an experimental basis. Unfortunately it is heavily opposed by the big ship blue water only Navy.

I can see why Taiwan would be interested in picking up some low-cost Perrys to replace their worn out Knox class frigates, but Taiwan's real weakness isn't found in their surface forces, but in their submarines, which are currently limited to two modern and two decrepit WWII-era boats.  With China's acquisition of a modern aircraft carrier, it is doubtful that Taiwanese surface forces will be able to survive, let alone operate effectively outside the umbrella of their own, land-based aircraft, if at all, making the need for modern subs vital to their survival.  I have read that Taiwan plans to start a submarine building program as early as 2013, with the possible acquisition of four used type 206s, turned away by Thailand, to fill in the gaps.  I have also read that Taiwan may even purchase the more modern type 214, from a batch originally ordered by Greece, who can no longer afford them.  (Taiwan has officially denied that any such deal for the Greek boats is in the offing, BTW.) Either way, Taiwan's need to bulk up their underwater forces far outweigh their need for better surface units.