I want to know the answer to the following question:
Why did pre or prije develop rather than the symboled "pre"?
All the background I'm provided with is that "The prefix prě- ("trans-, over-") when long became pre- in eastern Ijekavian dialects but to prije- in western dialects; in Ikavian pronunciation, it also evolved into pre- or prije- due to potential ambiguity with pri- ("approach, come close to").". Is that enough to answer the question?
Answer: yes