Had an exchange with FedEx on this matter. They were quick to respond. The status of the package has been updated to out-for-delivery. They did not directly address my actual question about the multiple hops from Memphis to my home city. That is, other than to say FedEx uses a thing called Zone Skipping that may look confusing but is apparently actually ultra-super-duper brilliant. (I paraphrased a little). I decided I wasn't gonna die on that hill so I just let it go.
🤞