What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[ApolloGenX]

It's implied there weren't even physical obstacles to get past until Thancred works his influence on the place.

The Ancients go in our place, they find an empty black expanse, Meteion chokes them to death. The End.

I guess that could make sense... assuming that the Ancients aren't Aether dense enough to resist or bring enough aether with them, since there isn't any there.... although I think most if not all of our magic relies on Aether and it works there fine...also she wouldn't have had 1000 years to collect dynamis, so she wouldn't be nearly as strong. If they had a means to travel there they probably would have snapped her like a twig... she would still just be a familiar.