Quote Originally Posted by MistakeNot View Post
I am not so sure it is for the sake of continuity, although I suppose it could be. The requirement to do those to proceed with the 2.x MSQ was added long before the relevant HW quest was added.

But anyway I am pretty sure you are expected to have done the HM trials long before the 2.x MSQ requires them - you can unlock them much earlier, and they are required for several other things as well. Skipping all the optional stuff and concentrating on just the MSQ is not really how you are supposed to play, even though it certainly is possible to do it that way.
This is most certainly how I play, because when it comes to Aether Currents, it makes doing those side quests SO MUCH EASIER when you can fly! So if you just focus on MSQ and those blue+ side quests along with seeking out Aether Currents with compass, you can unlock all the Aether Currents pretty quickly... then go back and finish side quests.