I think the point of this episode is that the Machine has to learn that there is no perfect outcome. The longer it tries, the more it's going to cost by the time it has to cut its losses.
For as much as this is getting hammed up, I'm actually going to be a little pissed if all of them make it out alive, as stupid as that sounds. They've raised the stakes so high lately for them to pull through every situation.
I think the point of this episode is that the Machine has to learn that there is no perfect outcome. The longer it tries, the more it's going to cost by the time it has to cut its losses.