That's a good way to put it. I see what you mean. Compare Lobster-Man to the actor she was dating in BND. He's there more for Peter's story than MJ's.
Yeah, that whole bit (especially "LOL you're Gwen Stacy") made me want to give MJ a hug. If only the hair and makeup people had given her mile-high Erik Larsen hair. :( (Re-reading JMS's rebuilding of the Peter/MJ marriage and his analysis of her importance as a supporting character is really, really bittersweet, for obvious reasons.)