I think I'll just post what I said a few months ago on the subject.
Kurita was not on a suicide mission, so retreating after tangling with the Taffies seems to me to have been a very good move given what he knew about the circumstances. Kurita was the son of a imminent scholar on Bushido and was aware of how the Code of Bushido had been twisted by Japanese militarists. So sacrificing his squadron just for the sake of saving face, honor and following orders to the letter wasn't high on his priorities.
Imagine how it plays out if he stays and pushes through to the Leyte beach head. An hour to regain command and control of his scattered force, four hours to do a thorough job busting up command, control and cohesion of the Leyte invasion fleet. In that time, he winds up trapped between Halsey's CVs and BBs, Turner's BBs and CVEs, and can't sink enough of the invasion TF to substantially change the outcome. So he loses everything. Sinks maybe a dozen light vessels of the invasion task force, or else sinks maybe a dozen vessels in Taffy 2 and 3.
Given the already crushing disparity in ships and resources in favor of the Allies, it doesn't change the outcome of the campaign or the war an iota. You simply end up with a few less Japanese cruisers and battleships spending the last weeks of the war rusting in port due to lack of fuel and maintenance.