They couldn't start the legal battle without doing this. They needed to get solid legal standing. So yes, they planned it, but they couldn't easily challenge Apple without getting the rejection.

Your suggestion is that they sit on the sidelines and complain about the situation. That's what plenty of people have done, and it makes no difference.

I'm not a fan of Epic, I don't play their games. They did all this for their own benefit. But it's probably a good thing overall.