I agree this was a shit show from Ballot No. 1. But please explain why McCarthy didn't work out all of these details long ago. He honestly has had since last summer to prepare.
But we didn't even know who was going to be in Congress back then. We didn't know which party was going to control Congress, how much of a margin they would have, what would be the factions with them whichever margin was elected, etc. Heck, Boebert was a pubic hair away from not getting elected at all. So none of this realistically could start until after the election because you wouldn't know how to even begin counting the votes, or what concessions would be required to get to 218.
It sounds like the limits being imposed on the Speaker are more or less unprecedented, and I don't think those concessions were ever going to be made unless/until it got down to the wire.
I still think the FC shot conservatism in the foot with this, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.