About the other shards.

[Anonymoose]

For this kind of speculation, it's important to note that this difference is inherently relative.

Within each individual shard, time is passing at the same pace. However, due to the chaotic nature of the Rift, time is apparently "at different places" between shards relative to each other. This also oscillates. One shard might be "faster" than another at one point, and "slower" than that same shard later on. This was the case with the Source and the First, with them just "passing one another" and "catching up to each other' at this present moment. (How convenient for the plot!)

So if a shard is, right now, "ahead" of the Source, yeah, it might be more advanced. It might also be more advanced simply by virtue of existing just as long as us, but without having seven Calamities. Or perhaps it might be less advanced since the Ascians aren't meddling in their wars and inspiring technological breakthroughs!

TL;DR it's ALL on the table