That they like simultaneous -- synchronized -- attacks is clear from their MO. Not just AQ, also other muslim terror orgs. Not at all clear they like large body counts. That is, they may talk about large body counts, but those are not as important as exactitude in place and time.
Something fundamental about that distinction. They like details that are immaterial to effect. A natural liking.
Like a video game. The sniper-boy Malvo's artwork is a read into that. Or -- dare I say it -- nearly the whole of modern moslem theology -- arcana, minutae, arcana.
Pray at exacty the right time five times a day, facing exactly the right compass degree ...
No wonder they HATE sex -- that is male-female sexuality and relationships which are wildly unpredictable, very asynchronous.