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Yeah, I bailed little bit after in Penrith. It's one thing to finish an ultra at a snail's pace while suffering alone but it's another thing to ask others to accompany you, even if they're willing to do so.
With LEJOG as well, if you do finish and you're off target, you're miles away from anything useful. So you're then stuck with a tired team that have to get back to reality (Edinburgh?). There's more time, more cost and if you're not getting the record, there's little point carrying on an unpleasant journey along A roads when you could tour it and have a much nicer experience. What's the drive time home from Edinburgh vs. JOG?
Basically, there's no point finishing it, unless you're quite close to record pace.
hippy
For most rides I'd agree with that but I think this is a bit different. AIUI in RRA attempts, once it is clear you can't beat the record, they more or less insist you abandon as they don't want to observe a ride that doesn't beat a record.
Also it would be hard to keep your support team up another night in a lost cause. And for something this long it would be very hard to make yourself ride another whole day and night in a lost cause, ensuring massive sleep dep and muscle damage.
While I've ridden 11 hours of a 12 hour knowing I was off my target, hating every minute of it, this is a bit more of a write off, even @hippy got off his bike at Shap when he was off his target pace (I expect there was more to it).