Honestly, sometimes I think they jam so much time travel into FFXIV because it leaves the door open for potential recycle of villains, but from another timeline.

Like we've had the uhh, saved by another timeline thing happen. And I guess now the saved by a time lemniscate loop thingie.

But I remember thinking to myself back towards the beginning of SHB that due to the 8UC succeeding in time travel, would it not follow then that there were other timelines where the Ascians got in on that? Like, I remember thinking that one of the ways they'd bring Emet back, was that an alternate timeline version of himself that was still full Rejoining committed would come waltzing out of the First's Crystal Tower's basement.

But I suppose if villains get access to time travel, we'd get villain fatigue. People would complain etc. Only the heroes get to get in on that sweet sweet convenient resolving or looping back in on itself time paradox saves the day schtick.