Most of the Starlink satellites are at a 53deg inclined orbit.
This means that they will appear to be tracking north as they approach 53N, then appear to stop and then track south. That's a likely explanation for the "they can't be satellites because they change direction" assumptions.
There are also newer satellites at 43deg inclined orbit, and some polar ones at 97.6deg.
You can see them all here:
https://beta.starlink.sx