Development (change of character) does not make characters good or well written. TFA characters may get more development throughout the film but they are boring or unoriginal and the development is bad or unoriginal. While in R1 the characters may not change much (do no get much development) but at least they are complex and interesting.
Elaborate please. Beyond Cassian how are the characters complex? You say these things but you never really go into detail.
I think you should stop finding lame false explanations about R1 and TFA in order to feel better. You should face the fact that R1 is simply good and TFA is crap. Those of us who like R1 and dislike TFA simply accept this truth.
I like Rogue One but it’s definitely more entertaining than well written. I personally can’t say the same for TFA.
TFA is neither well written nor entertaining.
Your opinion.
EDIT:
TFA still has the stupid map and the stupider R2D2 activation moment, but it averages out so that both become simply mediocre.
Don’t forget seeing the destruction of a planet from an entirely different star system.
TFA was far worse with its offenses.
I think we can all agree Starkiller Base is the worst thing to come out of these films.