Isn't this the entire point/premise of DBWIs? Which are, after all, not everyone's cup of tea.
Sort of, but in a far more stricter and methodical sense: It's not "How do we get to X in the year 1945? Well... If we begin with Y in 1895, then that leads to Z in 1896, followed by-..." to eventually arrive at the desired scenario in 1945.
It is far more stricter than that: "A happened in 1945... This was, of course, caused by B in 1944, triggered by C in 1943-..." and you then work your way backwards to 1895 (or whatever year you eventually end up with).