this Politico article goes into more detail on evacuation orders and the National Hurricane Center's view of Ian's path...
The NHC and others make a strong case for not focusing on the "Skinny Black Line" of any hurricane's track...as you have said, the Florida officials needed to look at the "Cone" of where the storm might end up.
Link: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/10/01/florida-death-toll-hurricane-ian-00059893