X-Men: "ZOMG, why doesn't the jerk fight more solo battles? I just can't respect the guy."
Cyclops: "Steps forward and unleashes his triennial (or whatever) landscape-wrecking optic punch."
X-Men: "ZOMG, why won't you let us do anything???!!!"
I remember having a "What the hell is up with the gratuitous sexiness and random tentacle monster showing up?" reaction to that particular sub-plot, lol.
Maybe an oblique throwback to Cyke's first honeymoon?