Firstly, from a practical point of view, if you're looking for a place to stay in New Orleans, you'd find it hard to beat Phil's for comfort, amenities and location (his place is right next to a bus stop from which you can catch a bus that goes straight to the French Quarter, and runs 24 hours).
However, the real draw is Phil himself. He was an unbelievably great host and we experienced New Orleans in a way that we would never have been able to if we'd stayed somewhere else. Not only is he a really cool and nice guy, he's also a fount of knowledge of the local area and has many interesting stories from his career. He was very generous to us and went above and beyond to ensure that our time in New Orleans was unforgettable. I'd definitely look for his place first if I were to return to New Orleans and even if I couldn't stay, I'd want to meet up and see what was going on in NOLA.
Thanks again for everything!