Right, and the prequels have massive faults like that (although to be fair, some of those aren’t true), but in a cultural context, the prequels do hold significance to the current state of blockbuster, digital film making, and mainstream storytelling.
No one’s studying the prequels as an example of good filmmaking, obviously, but its ambition with technological innovation and strides made with the concept of diegesis in film worlds is worth discussing in an analysis of where the industry is now, where we are today as a critical audience, and what the “general audience” as a phrase means to a studio when it comes to making movies. It’s a little more academic and admittedly pretentious, than whether or not a character or faction in them was iconic. It’s more to do with cultural shift, rather than revolution or phenomenon.
And we shouldn’t downplay the trilogy’s effects on the generation(s) that have and will grow up with it. Sure, these particular films coast on the brand name established by the OT, but they’re there, and are introductions to more complex ideals that aren’t in a lot of works directed at a younger audience. The same way Luke Skywalker taught us “basic” good vs evil lessons (I’m being reductionist fyi), there are plenty of implicit morals in the PT that wouldn’t hurt towards better equipping someone in dealing with where the world is today. There is plenty of substance in these films, despite its objectively poor direction. It’s allowed to resonate with people, especially those not educated about what makes it objectively weak, in spite of that poor direction. Not everyone thinks and scrutinizes the same way a film student or critical OT fan does.
To get anecdotal rather than academic about it, try not to think about it as “either or” the OT or PT, because a kid nowadays grows up with both (As well as the ST and spinoffs now I suppose). Additionally, the only reason we know so much about what went wrong with the PT is that we can analyze the incredibly well documented process through the wealth of special/bonus features released with the DVDs - but that kind of thing being easy access definitely inspires aspiring filmmakers.
