Yes, I think this is it exactly. Now that they (think they) have a 6-3 majority, they're going for goal. They might recognize that McConnell's bull[stew] is bull[stew], and they might feel that the Democrats would be completely justified in expanding the Court (after all, the number of Justices on the Court is something else that isn't written in the Constitution), so maybe they figure they've got a little window here that could slam shut at any moment.
Yesterday, a left-leaning analyst on the radio referred to the conservative Justices as "Republican" Justices. Part of me hopes said Justices will say "Now wait just a [goshdarned] minute, mister, I am not a Republican Justice!" but otoh, I really want SC Justices to put themselves above the political football match.
Ultimately, the question is whether and when the conservatives believe that government should be empowered to invade an individual's privacy (I guess I'm taking the liberal justices' position on this issue for granted - evidently, I'm okay with doing that, at least for now). Generally speaking, conservatives are supposed to resist the urge of government to reach its arm into individual's homes and lives. So it should be even harder to make the case that the government can make such a personal decision for people when there are 6 conservatives sitting on the Court. Theoretically. I guess Mississippi is gambling that these conservatives aren't that type of conservative.
The entire point of the Heritage Foundation and similar groups is to make sure that all these Justices are Republican judges. It's entirely apt to call them so. It's literal conservative philosophy to put partisan hacks on the bench and make them rule the right way. Barrett is literally a cultist, the People of Praise, a 'Catholic' (really evangelical) group who speak in tongues, literally call female members handmaids because they are that insanely patriarchal and widespread sexual abuse including in Barretts local faith community, that they covered up. She was put through law school while living in one of the church leader's homes. They handpicked her to be a legal toady.
Meanwhile,
Kavanaugh wasn't actually investigated by the FBI, they handed the tips to the trump white house, he had a ton of mysterious debts that were all paid off and openly committed perjury.
Ironically it was Stevens and Souter, the 'traitor' Republicans who ended up on the 'liberal' side, who strategically retired under Obama to be replaced by young Liberal judges. But the Clinton appointees, RBG and Breyer are embarking on this insane nonsense about never retiring, and dying in their seat, to 'remain about the political football fight', when the Republicans are open partisan hacks.
As for the legality. It really doesn't matter. Republicans right now are using the same arguments for abortion, about 'bodily autonomy' and the rights of individuals, to justify refusing to wear a harmless mask or get a vaccine to stop spreading the literal plague. But think it's okay to be forced to raise a child, a multi decades-long investment of time and money, often even if the woman had no choice in the matter. They pick a position and backfill it. It's only some of the lawyers who care about the legal arguments, and the rest knows it's just exercising power through fancy words.
It seems to me that repealing Roe vs. Wade would be opening the door wide for those who want to expand the court. It is widely popular in the general population isn't it?
Maybe, if the US electoral system was designed to reflect the will of the populace. But it doesn't, so Democrats are at the mercy of Manchin and Sinema, who are just odd and stupid. She is literally the least popular statewide Federal Democrat in Arizona.
Barely majority approval with Democrats
Less popular with independents as well.
and already 2/3rds want her replaced in a primary
When wielding power, you want your opponent to know you can do something. But Sinema and Manchin have already taken the court-packing and filibuster reform out of the Democrats quiver, so if Republicans destroy Roe v Wade ... they can't do anything. There will be a big march and fervour in the media for a while. And then nothing will happen, because they don't have 50 votes, because they rely on the bipartisan king of coal mountain, and a ex-Green party wacko with a personality disorder.