Glad to finally hear you guys put an end to this constant search for flipped shots. they are flipped for a reason, as some posters above have clearly explained.
It doesn’t matter. The flipped elements can be partially or wholly flipped back and maintain composition. It’s just as distracting to see R2 mirrored as having him move counter to the flow of the action.
I disagree on your second point (flipped elements are only noticed by obsessive fans on repeat viewings, whereas a bad cut is obvious to anyone, whether or not they understand why), but yes, if the offending elements can be changed without flipping the whole shot back, then that should absolutely be done.
As someone with a fine art training in my experience people generally notice these things at a gut level. I noticed the flip shots in the phantom menace on first viewing.