As far as being stripped of Hydaelyn's blessing goes I think people misunderstand what that is. The blessing Hydaelyn gave us is the one that she told us to do at the very start of 2.0 - The shield to banish the darkness will be formed of the crystals of light etc. This is not the same thing as the Echo which is what allows us to understand ascian speech, sense Ascians (Moenbryda (RIP) cannot do either of these things but Minfilia and the WoL can), and withstand tempering.

It is only the Blessing of the Crystals of Light (The thing that buffs you in Prae against Ultima) that Middy removed and used to remake himself, not the Echo.

Incidentally, I'm nicknaming Midgardsormr "Middy" from now on because baby Middy is so adorable yet kind of like a grumpy uncle.