I hate it when they look like that. I never know if they're going to make it or hang on long enough to put out some pups or just expire and head for the compost pile. I don't know if I've watered too little or not enough. These days I tend to under-water (except for my Spanish Moss), to avoid problems with rot, but even that kind of benign neglect in our dry atmosphere may not be appreciated by some plants. So I can't help :(

Yeah, fortunately it's not at a point the leave are falling off easily, but I don't know what it needs! I have another kind that is also very...shriveled instead of brittle. It looks like it needs water but I don't know how to nurse that one back to life either, will post pics of that one later.

My problem with dunking/soaking is usually fossilizing so I really need some advice on this.

I've noticed that sometimes in such cases if one peels back dead-looking leaves a bit, one can find fungus (usually white), which tells me when I see it that plant may be a goner :( It may have been overwatered (by me), in which case underwatering it may be a solution. Others may have better advice. I wouldn't compost it yet, wait to see if it starts some new growth from the center.

That plant looks dead - overwatered. Tillandsias need a lot of fresh air and some sun/warmth to get dry fast after watering. If dunking is killing them, use less water. Mist them 2-3 times per week and try to ensure that no water stays in the plant center.