I read that story a bit differently. My take is that they stopped the recount because they didn't have enough money to pay the recount fee, which was due up front. Their only option was to then plan to file a federal lawsuit, since their state options were exhausted. The fees due to their lawyers can always be paid later, since there are always enough dumb Democrats to contribute to that later. It takes a little more time to collect that money.
The federal lawsuit keeps their ever slimming hopes alive a bit longer.
The clock is ticking on a recount, especially in Pennsylvania. How can they have a recount and make the deadline to certify the votes? Jill the Doctor Stein waited too long.