We prove that for every Borel equivalence relation $E$, either $E$ is Borel reducible to $mathbb{E}_0$, or the family of Borel equivalence relations incompatible with $E$ has cofinal essential complexity. It follows that if $F$ is a Borel equivalence
relation and $cal F$ is a family of Borel equivalence relations of non-cofinal essential complexity which together satisfy the dichotomy that for every Borel equivalence relation $E$, either $Ein {cal F}$ or $F$ is Borel reducible to $E$, then $cal F$ consists solely of smooth equivalence relations, thus the dichotomy is equivalent to a known theorem.
