The real issue is that this show has done similar things before and is dragging out the main conceit of the show. How many times have we seen something from the future only for it to be no quite what it seems?  And to now give us something concrete about the future and take it away, what am I suposed to do with that?

It was only a plot device - they needed someone for Robin to talk to, and couldn't come up with something better.

Wow, I really disagree with you.  How can we "suspend  out pre-conceived notions" if they keep moving the targets?  I am really not sure what they what us to think happens in the future, so this changed nothing for me.