DuracellEnergizer said:
Not only does the franchise’s long slide into universe-shrinkage

I don’t think one should blame something good for how it was used in future installments or other franchises. A good example is the fact that Vader was such an awesome villain that George literally made him Space Jesus in the PT. Should we blame Vader being awesome for that?

and revisionism begin with TESB

Elaborate please.

but TESB is very different in tone and feel from SW; many fans may have fallen in love with Star Wars for the optimistic, swashbuckling nature of the original film, and may have found the grittier, grimmer nature of TESB a harsh, unwelcome departure from that.

I can see that but there were plenty moments of levity and STAR WARS was clearly made to be the 1st act in a 3 act story. To go in another direction would have been George not staying true to his original vision. That’s just how I see it though.