Edit: Should have quoted RG on this one
Yay! As soon I it occured to me I had the same reaction. It keeps Eric in the story, but not necessarily in the way we think. Maybe he was kind of a jerk? I mean, he was pretty quick to fall in love with an evil seawitch in disguise, that always bothered me. Plus it gives Ariel some backstory that would fit within the timeline we already know, but gives opportunities to write a new tale for her (pun intended). And they’re not cornered to make her very young, and I think it would give her character a bit of depth.
I’m so proud that I actually had a coherent theory for once.
Keeper of the Cheshire Cat’s smile, Baelfire’s sword, Snow’s backpack, Robin Hood’s bow, Ariel’s purse, Ariel’s smile, Henry’s heart, Belle’s shoe collection