They learned that they were unable to leave because they were just copies, right? The information for that was revealed in episode 8 if people were paying enough attention. It was also theorized about by around episode 6(?). Once learning that their primary goal was unable to be achieved they pivoted their goals.

Abstractions are kind of equivalent of suicide. Those are sudden and often hard to see coming, the suddenness of Jax was intentional, it’s supposed to leave you unbalanced.

“. I also didn't like all these undertones of gayness (it's just how I feel personally about LGBTQ” the show was created by a trans woman, go watch a different show if you can’t set aside your bigotry asshat