User blog comment:Artek206/limits on Kanohi Mask powers/@comment-958607-20130607212025/@comment-1221909-20130608095416

Bear in mind, Bitil was also hesitant to call back earlier versions of himself since he didn't want to expose his pre-Karda Nui selves to the mutagenic elements of the Swamp of Secrets, which would subsequently rewrite his timeline and lock him in his then-current form and lose several abilities.

And I don't think his intelligence would hinder him. Sure, he wasn't the brightest Makuta, but most Makuta were cunning and ambitious, so the thought may have crossed his mind.