[fooker]

Add a refueling station in orbit and this setup requires less BFR + BFS launches.

I am guessing a BFR + specialized fuel container payload will deliver far more fuel to orbit compared to BFR + BFS + fuel.

[mikeash]

There is already a plan for a tanker version of the BFS, since as you note it wouldn’t be efficient to refuel with another crewed craft. I don’t see what the station helps with, though. That’s just extra mass to launch.

[fooker]

Managing logistics? A series of BFR launches to station some fuel in orbit seems like a better choice than having to launch a fuel tanker BFR each time.

[mikeash]

Why? I don’t see the advantage. It would make sense if one BFR tanker could launch enough fuel for multiple missions, which you’d then want to store somewhere, but that’s not the case.

[asdfgl]

Orbit isn't just one thing. The plane changes (some of the most expensive types of burns) involved to get to the same orbit as a tanker and then to the target orbit would vastly outway any potential benefits.