User blog comment:Brianbreed/The Biggest Single Plot Hole in Mass Effect 2/@comment-1823873-20111008234803

Wow, this topic expanded while I was away! Thanks for all your input, guys.

The core of the issue was that the Collector Base was located near the galaxy core, which Taylor describes as nothing more than "black holes and supernovas." The radiation and gravity wells of these hazards protected the Collector Base from, ostensibly, any unwanted contact with other species, as well as any interference with their work (prior to the Suicide Mission). The Omega-4 Relay was one-way in, sure, but you're right - it wasn't necessarily one-way out.

But the Normandy doesn't get back to the Mass Relay before the explosion reaches the ship. They perform a conventional jump to escape. Remember, no known entities have explored the core of the galaxy save the Reapers and perhaps Collectors. That's like driving in a blizzard without headlights or tire chains: you MIGHT survive, but do you want to find out?

This bugs me because it would have been so easily fixed. Why weren't they just racing back to the relay? Why travel ANY distance away from the Collector Base before jumping at all, if jumping in this region is predictable?