Based on my limited review off the history, it appears that JFK Jr.'s "exploration" was a feint, and he was focusing on his magazine among other things as you say. However, it appears to have been an intentional feint just like Trump's feints in 1988, 2000, and 2008 Presidential campaigns. Unclear the exact purpose of doing this beyond the obvious raising of public profile.

Based on my limited review off the history, it appears that JFK Jr.'s "exploration" was a feignt, and he was focusing on his magazine among other things as you say. However, it appears to have been an intentional feignt just like Trump's feignts in 1988, 2000, and 2008 Presidential campaigns. Unclear the exact purpose of doing this beyond the obvious raising of public profile.