Just so, which is why I brought it up. I'd always assumed it was one of those inconsistencies of the early books. While your explanation does provide a plausible alternative, it seems incredible to me that the Watchers, whom we know very little about, would be so fanatical as to keep denying the Seanchan even in the face of this repeated execution. Especially since, as you've pointed out, why would they not acknowledge the Seanchan if they were so devout? I'd assumed that they denied the Seanchan because they'd long given up on actually upholding their traditions and chosen to cling to temporal power instead.

Also, we can compare them to the Whitecloaks, who were consistently portrayed as fanatical zealots and yet kneeled over for the Seanchan in record time.