Odd Multiple Service Accounts question!

[NeverAgain]

So here's what I can gather happened to you.

September 3 2010

- Signed up for Version 1.0 Open Beta

September 22, 2010

- Created Second account (Final Fantasy XIV 2) and used your Collector's Edition registration code. During the registration process you were informed that the benefits only worked for a new account so during said process you created a "new" account, not knowing that you had already created a new account or were unsure if the beta account "counted" as a new account. Also, you were told your character progress from Open Beta would not carry over into release, but that you could use your character creation data to create a "new" character for release. Was not properly informed that the character you created for Beta was actually already tied to an account you already created but that the progress for that character was wiped while the character creation data wasn't. Even if you were informed, you played it safe and chose to make a new account either way.

- Either played or didn't play 1.0. Either wondered or didn't wonder why you didn't have all of your Collector's Edition perks.

August 16th, 2013

- Sign up for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn as a person who "Already has a Square Enix Account"
- Create Beta character on Final Fantasy XIV 1.

August 20th, 2013

- Confused why your 2.0 Collector's Edition data is being used on an account you didn't create.
- Didn't realize that 1.0 Collector's Edition accounts get all the same in game items as 2.0 Collector's Edition.

August 21st, 2013
- Is informed by fellow gamer that Final Fantasy XIV 2 looks like a 2.0 account when in reality it is a 1.0 Collector's Edition account as no one has access to 2.O Collector's Edition registration codes.

August 24th, 2013 ~* The Future *~

- Receive 2.0 Collector's Edition registration code.
- Apply Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn registration code to Final Fantasy XIV 1.
- Final Fantasy XIV 1 has access to Helm of Light, Baby Behemoth, Behemoth Barding, Coeurl Bell
- Final Fantasy XIV 2 has access to Onion Helm, Helm of Light, Baby Behemoth, Behemoth Barding, Coeurl Bell

continue to ponder which account / character has more progress. Final Fantasy XIV 1 (Open Beta / ARR Open Beta) or Final Fantasy XIV 2 (1.0 Early release account).

Ah-hahaha, even though it is all just plainly true, it was still pretty amusing to read it all at once like that. Thank you for being so detailed and thorough. *sigh* I really mucked things up. My crappy memory isn't helping either. Just one thing I want to clarify, if you'd indulge me a bit further...

You are saying that WHICHEVER account I plant my ARR early access code on, will eventually also be the one my ARR Collector's Edition items will land on? Regardless of the fact that my screenshot shows only "FFXIV 2" as having the ARR Collector's Edition listed? I'm just very curious why FFXIV 1 shows nothing, when FFXIV 2 lists everything...

I'd honestly rather keep my ARR beta progress, I didn't play 1.0 much at all, and for the ARR beta, I very pointedly decided to start new characters and abandon my old 1.0 ones (did not wish to keep their race/appearance etc). My only concern was regarding the association of my ARR collector's edition to one account and not the other. Assuming my early access and following registration plays out as mentioned above, the only thing I'd really be losing by choosing "FFXIV 1" is the Onion Helm, which is bound to one of the characters I don't plan on using any more anyway... right? Because as I recall, only the first character you created in 1.0 gained the onion helm? Making a new character from the same account would not cause this new character to gain an onion helm... or would it, because, new game?

Here I go muddling things up again...

EDIT!!

I don't think the SE system recognizes the old 1.0 Collector's Edition separately from 2.0 Collector's Edition.

i.e. it sees that you have a "Collector's Edition" account and chooses to call it "A Realm Reborn - Collector's Edition" even though you couldn't have tied any ARR Collector's Edition information to it.

If you don't mind losing your Onion Helm and any 1.0 character progress just apply your pre-order code to Final Fantasy XIV 1.

If you want to keep your Open Beta progress and your Open Beta Friends list apply your pre-order code to Final Fantasy XIV 1 and when you get your ARR registration code, apply all of its benefits to Final Fantasy XIV 1.

I took too long composing this post, and you already clarified my questions. This theory makes sense.