Hmm actually despite the time travel issues, I think FC holds together better than even most of the TOS movies...some of the probs he goes into don't seem all that complicated to explain...like changes in the time line...they had already been made, so the crew was just working toward restoration. As for why they chose first contact travel to...why not?? Most time travel movies have a 'crux" moment to go back to. Maybe the sphere was experimental, maybe they were only going to use it as a last resort, maybe it had a limited range (a theme explored in other time travel stories). Maybe, just maybe first contact, and warp drive are MORE interesting than going back to the 1950s and grandmas house...I can see I'd never use the reviewer to write my scripts.
RAMA