The issue was that the staff didn't state 'there is literally nothing you can do with them' or respond to users when they asked about it. Nobody is bashing on 'people who just test things out rather than waiting' but I'm sure that if there was an ember shop or a special use for them revealed near the end of the event, then some of the people who had already alchemized all their embers would have been upset. All people are asking for is better communication to prevent uncertainties like this in the future.