When Kozama'uka was first previewed and we were told about the pelupelu, I suspected that we might be getting a Moonflow expy with a shoopuf ferry driven by the hypello. And then NONE of that happened... which, y'know, it's fine, just because it occurred to me doesn't mean it had to happen.

When it comes to stuff from the earlier games, and 9 in particular... part of the issue is how much stuff has already been lifted at this point in the game's lifecycle. The Prima Vista showed up in Return to Ivalice, the Ark and Cruise Chaser both showed up during Alexander, Quan is referenced in the Hildibrand quests as Gigi's creator (who is, in turn, an expy for Vivi), the Jester Twins are Vauthry's henchgirls in Eulmore. Some of the things that are most iconic from 9 are things that were already done in the game in some other manner, like Alexander himself or Odin or Bahamut exploding things. Getting MORE explicit with references, like straight-up lifting Kuja or Garland to the same extent that the Crystal Tower or Golbez and the Four Fiends were dropped in might not be the automatic success that some folks seem to think.

Besides, doing the Fusoya version of Garland when the Dissidia version or the Stranger of Paradise Chaospuncher Garland are there feels like it would fall flat.

That Sphene's narrative feels like an upside-down version of Garnet's story is a way of subverting expectations while also providing a bit of fan service for folks who played 9. And that's the same with the translations of Steiner and Beatrix