Without a doubt.
Anyway, besides the obvious, the Aetherials were servants of the primordial gods and have a direct beeline to the Aether. Which is also why the player character got access to it after their possession.
The Aether itself is one of the two most powerful forces in the universe. The other being the Void. Both of which are drawn on by the gods. Ascendant and primordial alike.
They possessed a few prominent people but I am not sure where exactly to pin them. There's a few Archmages in their number, and even one Ascendant.
However, I imagine they won't have them in scenario two. In scenario one they would steamroll the whole universe.