The route is pre-planned, probably before the cast is chosen. Tasks are planned, permits issued, supporting staff hired, props built, etc. Production has no idea who the final 3 will be and if they are a hometown team before the leg actually gets run. Unless there is a major reason to change tasks or locations, I think that it is a violation of the rules to change it. Major reason being acts of war, nature, or anything that in the opinion of producers could be harmful to the teams. We make these statements every season when there are non-elimination legs. And given you have to be a citizen of the US to be part of TAR-USA there is a chance for every state to be the hometown state!