[SPOILERS]

[wereotter]

It actively detracts from the world-building to have the Eorzean pantheon just be yet another work of Hydaelyn who now don't even exist in any capacity.

I have to agree here. I feel like it's a bit tired now that everything has to tie back to the ancients in some way or another. It would have been far more interesting if the 12 were a pure form of summoning magic, the prayers of countless people over thousands of years gave them life, but because they didn't follow the summoning rituals of the Ascians, they didn't attempt to temper the people living on Hydaelyn.

That would have at least given more depth to how the world works as opposed to they were just another convocation of 12.