I don't know about above my paygrade, but it sure as shit does confuse the hell out of me.

[Case in point: what do you call an alternate universe version of yourself?

It's a much better question to focus on than wondering about all the changes between them and the reasons that might have caused it. That way lies a dangerous rabbit hole to spiral down.]

I mean, it's one thing to theorize infinite variations, it's kind of another thing to have it proven to you.