Possible Clues:

• Ultimately still important, what has no E in it?
• Words before a grand finale
• Being in the back is just as important for the significant losers
• What's available from letters of flats? Something not to be overlooked
• Almost final words
• Belying his position, what Scrabble player could do with italics?
• Still important when arranged in ascending order of height?
• Which of two words has no E? It's not unimportant ultimately
• Broken bottles Tantalus found ultimately significant?
• Not necessarily ranked by importance