Empire vs Rebels 2.0 was not in Lucas’ story. Sorry.
"The important thing to know was this, throughout the entire guided imagery phase, Lucas was involved.
And what ideas were born in the guided imagery phase?
Kira (Rey/Thea) as a scavenger on a desert planet.
Skylar/Finn/Sam as Kira’s friend.
Kira finding a “map” to Luke Skywalker by the end of the film.
Luke being in hiding somewhere and dealing with some heavy emotional issues.
The nebulous concept of the Jedi Killer (Talon as Jedi Killer is just one possibility, the earliest Jedi Killer art really changes the appearance up, from non-human to human to Talon to Knight of Ren looking dude, to perhaps even Snoke himself.
Han Solo was back to his smuggling ways.
Leia was in a position of power.
The Neo-Empire was a thing (just not called First Order yet).
There was a “shadowy puppeteer” behind Talon/the Jedi Killer.
A final confrontation between Rey/Thea/Kira and the “Jedi Killer” on an snow planet.
The Neo-Empire having a superweapon.
A Yoda-like creature to move the story along (eventually Maz).
A graveyard of imperial stuff on various planets, including Jakku.
A forest planet w/ a castle (what eventually becomes Maz’s stronghold).
A green planet with a WWII style “Republic base.”
Kira/Rey/Thea living in an AT-AT.
Again, lots and lots of pictures of Kira/Rey/Thea wandering the junkyards of her world and being a gearhead/techie/scavenger.
Luke’s hiding spot was always either an island or a forest planet that was gorgeous.
This is all from the guided imagery phase! Where Lucas’ treatment was still being reworked by himself, Kennedy and Arndt! And before J.J. was a) officially announced as director, and b) even really that involved!
This phase went up until June of 2013."
Much of this information comes from the Art of the Force Awakens.
And I don’t have sources on hand, but I’ve seen convincing arguments on TFN for Luke in TLJ not really jiving with Campbell.
Then bring them when you get the chance.
The rest I just disagree with. Also Rey has less reason to fall for Kylo than Padme did Anakin, AKA basically none.
Star Wars fans in the 2000s would have laughed at you if you even thought Padme had much of a reason to fall for Anakin. Now, I think she did, but most fans didn’t. And Rey and Kylo’s mind literally became one, feeling all of their own hopes, fears and insecurities in a single moment. I think they know each other on a deeper level than anyone else knows them.
You didn’t address the first point you quoted.
Lucas didn’t hit the reset button in his version.
It wasn’t Empire vs Rebels 2.
It was Empire vs a functioning New Republic.