A bit of bizarre time to release this at, isn't it?

This needs reasonably predictable markets and the economy to work ... both of which are currently lacking. The market yield and the inflation rate are now just two big blurs and the average answer will be "your FIRE is achievable within 7 to 177 years depending on random things that may or may not happen next".

You're right — if someone wants a super precise FIRE date, it gets tricky with volatility and short time horizons. We considered adding a range around the retirement date using different return scenarios, but some users found that too complex and preferred the current simplicity.

That said, we still believe it’s useful to focus on what is in your control: contributing to the right accounts in the right order, investing wisely, and minimizing fees. Those fundamentals work in any market, and over time, the ups and downs tend to average out.

I don't see the problem. FIRE is long term game, if you are young, by the time where you would become FI this will look like just another blip.

FIRE was always a pipe dream throughout human history unless you were some kind of born-into-nobility royalty.

Markets being more chaotic and unpredictable is just reversion to the mean.

So it doesn't really matter when to release this tool. Might as well do it now.