Yes, the two answers from the C's regarding the longwave cycle seem to contradict each other (maybe a transmission error in early sessions).
Frankly, I do not see contradiction there; long wave cycles of existence are of two varieties: purely ethereal and purely physical.
For example, on 6D they are ethereal and of STO polarization or magnetization like the C's and other unified thought forms there, as there is no physicality above 4D and STS does not really exist on 6D except as a kind of a reflection and balancing concept, but not as an individual being per se.
On the 'other side' of creation, 1D and 2D beings on a long wave cycles of existence might be purely physical, even maybe long wave cycles of 1D and 2D could be only purely physical, and without a STO vs STS polarization or magnetization per se as that soul choice becomes actualized on an individual level from 3D up.
That long wave cycles there on lower awareness density levels could be only purely physical is inferred on the basis that 1D represents mineral world which is basically of physical nature and endowed with just a basic 'individual' consciousness or awareness or soul imprints. If something that the C's referred to as elementals also represent a 1D beings, then long wave cycles of existence on 1D (and 2D) could also naturally be purely ethereal.
As I see it, 1D and 2D beings, short and long wave cycles of existence alike, do not involve individualized soul 'progression', as there are no individualized souls there, but what 'moves' toward reunion with the DCM is the soul pool of the species or let's say their collective consciousness, until it reaches the 3D where 'first' individualization or particularization of that collectiveness occurs.
It is still in a bit of a haze though what actually happens when a pet, a dog or a cat for example, of a 3D human being reaches the threshold of 3D through its interactions with the human owner, like the C's said about Laura's dog for example. Is that particular pet's consciouness incarnated 'next' as a 3D human on Earth as that's the only genetic configuration or body that sustains 3D soul matrix on our planet, at least to my understanding, or on some other place in universe where genetic bodies exist that are more suitable for a 3D dog-like or cat-like soul matrices? That one particular 2D beings' consciousness that reached the threshold of 3D individualized soul could 'bring' the whole soul pool of that collective to the 'next' awareness density level in the same environment does not seem very realistic, especially as we have preadamic humans here as a sort of a bridge between 2D and 3D, but it doesn't seem completely impossible though.
But, I guess that line of inquiry falls in sort of off topic area of this thread.