I seem to remember that RJ's wording was less ambiguous. Didn't he clearly say that Fain was a specific thing of this TURNING of the wheel? Not just this age?
When Rand steps out of the pattern, it is described that he somehow latches himself to it, and that time does have meaning for him again, despite him being out side of time.
This is further supported by the fact that he is seeing the last battle plays out, with specific events happening at the...