The difference between Aethermetrics and Magitech [Spoilers?]

So after learned how Garleans actually can't use magic in Storm Blood. I realized that the Aethermetric technology of Allag and the Magitech of Garlemald are vastly different in at least one respect.

Magic. Magitech despite it's name does not use raw aether but in fact utilizes Cerilium which we could kind of compare to a magical gasoline. That being said Both are actually stolen ideas. Magitech from Aethermetrics, and Aethermetrcis from Omega. Each technology becoming more and more reliant on aether (assuming Omega isn't actually a Primal which I suspect may be the case).

What do you guys think? Are there any other differences that you've noticed?

I haven't done the Omega raids so I can't form an opinion on what may or may not have been mentioned in that storyline, but magitek does utilize aether in a more roundabout way, in that cereleum contains aether itself (it's basically liquid aether processed into a refined form, making it very analogous to mako energy in FFVII, more so given the aetherial sea in FFXIV is also called the 'Lifestream'.).

It's to compensate for native born Garleans being unable to manipulate aether from their bodies themselves (as in, magic, hence the 'magi' in magitek), so they use processed aether instead to power technology like airships.

Aether is the energy of reality itself, and there are many different means to manipulate or utilize it with different results, from Disciples of Magic to even MCHs' using their aethertransformers to form aetheric bullets from their own body's aether. Teleportation is also the manipulation of aether, in that when a person teleports they break their body's physical form into aether and travel through the Lifestream instantly to an aetheryte which acts as a beacon in the aetheric sea.

Really, all that is needed to manipulate aether is a will and enough aether to do so, the ultimate expression of that being Primals.

My understanding is that the ins and outs of aetherochemistry were lost with the fall of Allag. Magitek is more recent, with the advent of the ceruleum engine some time before Garlemald became an empire. Mechanically, I suppose they're pretty similar, but the present-day game world hasn't retrieved all the knowledge.

I think that you might be mixing up a few of the Allagan Technologies, although admittedly the difference is often fine (or outright blurry). In general, there can be considered to be two types of Technology present in Ancient Allag. The first kind is the sorts of robotics and other machines present within their various ruins, ranging from the simple clockwork hunter to mighty constructs such as The Curator from the Fractal Continuum. These can be considered relatively purely as 'technology'. Highly advanced technology, but technology nevertheless. Aether can be seen as a form of energy in the world, so some of these machines (such as the aforementioned Curator or the Summoning Node) can directly manipulate it despite not having 'magic'. The machinists of ancient Allag, however, needed more than simple machines though, and thus they turned to the powerful sorcerer known as Amon...

Amon invented the field of Aetherochemistry. Aetherochemistry utilizes technological advancements alongside the active involvement of mages. This allowed them to create increasingly advanced weapons and the like, with the chimerae being particularly notable. The advent of Aetherochemistry was a huge boon to the Allagan civilization, allowing access to cloning, advanced genetic manipulation, and dozens of other technologies. The people of Allag were already excellent sorcerers, with archmagi such as Master Sari and Amon noted for their brilliance that wouldn't be matched until several Astral Eras later. Aetherochemistry does indeed require magic though, which brings us to...

Magitek, one of the main reasons for the primacy of the Garlean civilization, and what allowed them to conquer multiple continents. Magitek's origins are actually separate from Allag. Deprived of the power of magic, the Garleans had to devise other ways to survive in their unforgiving home. For this reason, they developed various forms of technology, and mastered the use of Ceruleum as a fuel source. The original types of machines described are actually relatively simple engines, and are reflected in the more 'steampunky' designs of some Garlean machines. Over time they were able to examine Allagan Ruins though, and worked to replicate their technologies at a rapid pace. While they could replicate the machines, being incapable of magic they are unable to utilize Aetherochemistry. While Magitek is more or less purely technology, it has that name since the Emperor felt that through it he had conquered magic.

It's fun to consider that more recently the Garleans are pushing into genetic manipulation, although clearly in different (and seemingly cruder) methods than the Allagans though.