They were traveling all over the country, yet when it comes to the critical question of a TARGET, they confine their scope to their own backyard?
Unlikely.
They Feds are "protecting" us by holding something back.
You know- even without a tinfoil hat- I think you may have a point. Considering the numbers of these that have been bought recently by unfriendly sorts..you have to at least wonder what OTHER targets may be on various lists..
Terrorism, like politics, is local.
If you're a novice terrorist, it's probably smarter to swing at some low hanging fruit first. A target that you're familiar with, in terrain you're familiar with, would be the best way to go.
Getting the supplies for the attack doesn't need to be done nearby, though, and in fact it was prudent of them to spread out their purchases like they did. As to the target, I think that it's a very normal thing to attack something close to home. The only major event where that wasn't the case was 9/11.
Exactly. Why tip off the New York Times?