There are actually 5 different pentatonic scale shapes that you can use. I've gone through blues 1 and more than halfway through blues 2 and I was surprised that only 1 shape is really used with some extensions on the bottom and top.

I had learned the 5 shapes when I was taking personal lessons years ago.

If you look at the guitar, you can play the same note (same pitch, not up or down an octave) in multiple places on the guitar. You use this to tune your guitar - you can play A on the 6th string 5th fret, or by playing the 5th string open. You can play an E on the 6th string 12th fret, 5th string 7th fret, or 4th string 2nd fret...all the same note!

I think the lessons focus on only a single shape because the focus is more on phrasing, not learning different positions. There is value in that. But yes, there are multiple shapes that do come in handy as you progress in your playing.