Following the example set by both the Zodiac and Anima weapons, releasing the relic weapon later is about the most hazardous thing they can do to the system, imo. The whole point was that it gains in levels and is competitive if not bis all throughout the expansion, but now what are they going to do? We've already several weapon tiers in, will they force us to rush through a lot of redundant stages, as people sneeze and they have enough Verity for a weapon? Or will they cut down those stages, in the process potentially affecting the storyline planned and at the very least, heavily reducing how much of a time sink the relic will be?
If nothing else, delaying the relic made me play other games more, and I know I'm not the only one, so that was really a big mistake on their part.