Custodes are no longer all male*

Nah, this is fine. Malcador and the emps set up a load of contingencies, including against themselves. And the emps has intervened into plots to kill and revive him IIRC. And the custodes couldn't do this task themselves, as they are locked to obeying the current incarnation of him, intrinsically linked to his will.

Don't know why this is blowing up, it's in keeping with the characters and the theme of self-defeating rules and tradition tying their own hands, and preventing things changing, even if it needs to.

Custodes are no longer all male*

Nah, this is fine. Malcador and the emps set up a load of contingencies, including against themselves. And the emps has intervened into plots to kill and revive him. And the custodes couldn't do this task themselves, as they are locked to obeying the current incarnation of him, intrinsically linked to his will.

Don't know why this is blowing up, it's in keeping with the characters and the theme of self-defeating rules and tradition tying their own hands, and preventing things changing, even if it needs to.