If you’re using an album analogy, then surely the Special Edition is the ‘remastered’ re-release with bonus track.
It is. The ST is a remix of old tracks with an updated orchestration, and a few bonus tracks.
The ST are new albums by an old band, and yes stylistically they haven’t changed that much but they have still topped the charts and been critically acclaimed.
New albums?
TFA = ANH + TESB + twists
TLJ = TESB + ROTJ + twists
You would be hard pressed to find a story thread in the ST, that isn’t in some way derived from an OT story thread.
Dre, you are just one of those ‘living in the past’ curmudgeonly fans who grumbles that there early stuff was better!
That’s because it is.