re: Out of state job interview

I wouldn't read that much into it other than that to them, you are a kinda random potential hire.

That doesn't mean you are wasting your time, it just means they don't know enough about you to invest in you when they have plenty of local talent from which to choose.

So if you want to move to NYC, go there, interview and bring your A game. If you don't particularly care then look elsewhere.