Well telepathy is a little more complex than that. It isn't just about reading thoughts.

[ He inclined his head toward the table next to them, and a moment later the blonde woman sitting across from the well dressed politician picked up her martini and threw it boldly into his face. And then she looked startled, horrified at what she'd done, and hurried around the table to dab at him with a serviette, apologising profusely. She couldn't win him back--he stood and left, leaving her weeping, and Sylar turned back toward McCoy. ]

As for time travel... If you can move through time you can change the world. The question really is whether you ought to. In my experience time travellers are just a nuisance. Some things have to happen for the world to be a better place, even terrible things.