the crystal tower (ilv80 gear) has always been before the coil (ilv90 gear) in progression, so why would it not be easier?

The start of the crystal tower is basically story content, and coil is true endgame, so why once again would it not be easier?

Just because they had to hold it back at 2.0 to 2.1 does not change where the raid goes in terms of progression. Why did they say only 100 players will down all 5 turns of coil before 2.1? mainly because we are missing the tower for gear progression and with the decreased rate without it only a very small number will be skilled enough to get it done based on the amount of gear they can obtain between release and 2.1.