Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-86191-20161002203416/@comment-1013969-20161012123136

There is always the 'Superboy Prime punching reality really messed things up' option. :-P

Seriously, going back to what the original creators had in mind doesn't really help with retcons. Heck, it is clear that there were "outs" for the ending of Crisis on Infinite Earths (Legion of Superheroes vol 3 #18, All-Star Squadron #60 and Legend of Wonder Woman #4) and the formal restart of DC's universe.

Regardless of what was planned by the original writers and editors after the fact retcons can throw that into the garbage can.