Its clear why some stayed in the building, as those that did voluntarily leave the compound were immediately arrested and frog-marched in chains to the county jail in front of live television cameras for everyone to see before all being charged with the murder of federal agents.
They were pleading to speak with the media and hanging signs out of the window saying, "WE WANT THE PRESS".
They knew the government was railroading them and wanted to make their case clear to the world before negotiating a surrender. Considering they were the victims of psychological warfare, including blasting music day and night, shining spotlights in the windows, and firing on the compound, I can forgive the BDs for possibly having not acted with the most germane judgement.
However, the government's actions were not in any sense justifiable. Yet the urban myth that they were some sort of Heaven's Gate or Jim Jones cult persists, at least to some ignoramuses around here.