I don't understand why people have so many problems with timers. I mean time just doesn't stand still. Your enemies aren't going to stand still and do nothing while you do your thing. Time needs to be a factor otherwise there sense of danger or foreboding. You might as well have this carefree attitude that you have all the time in the world which is STUPID.
The universe is hanging on a thread, but you can take years to finish. Bleh, timers are needed to show that the enemies aren't waiting for you. They are going to find you and kill you.