It's easier to clean up times.

I think it's frankly unacceptable to blindly control your character.

Timings can be off due to the rule of "as soon as the cutscene starts" or "when the developer console closes."

I firmly believe that as soon as you're available to move after the opening cinematic, that's when time should start.

Same principal as when timer ends. It's on fadeout, not as soon as you enter the Bridge.