I'm pretty sure the Allagans were doing their damnedest to make sure they avoided the pitfalls the civilization that preceded them fell into, fully assured that they would never make the mistakes of their forbears. I'm not so sure present-day Eorzea (or even the future of present-day Eorzea) is so enlightened as to be guaranteed success where the Allagans failed, and even if they were, to be confident of that is... agh, what's the word?

I think Garlemald's probably a lot more open-minded on that front. They're putting more effort into understanding the Allagans than any other civilization out there, and they're not afraid to keep at it even as borderline-sentient maintenance units laugh at their ineptitude. Hard work and a "never give up" attitude have to count for something.