Here's one idea: putting the new sensor in Leaf backs for the AFI was probably pretty simple: they had the back design (from the AFI 10), theymay have had some extra unusued "chassis", making it even easier. It gives Leaf a new "dominance" in a sector. The Leaf 12 gives them some high end publicity while Phase is busy retooling (perhaps) for some new back config.
As long as Leaf can sell enough of these to recoup the "specialty" costs of configuring for the AFI back, its not a bad way to sell some backs.
I seriously doubt there is any bigger, greater agenda at play here. Phase's collaboration with Schneider with lenses for the AFD suggest that Schneider is having to find a new home for their previously designed Rollei type lenses.
But as long as you can get AFI-12 back, lenses, and body support for the AFI, its pretty cool to be the belle of the ball for a while, however briefly.