Your reasoning is sound and has good points. But the scene is so awkward and goofy looking. Granted, yes it does raise questions about how she could have survived the explosion without any explanation … but at least for me its the better of two evils.

Granted, IF this is possible, there could be another way that combines some of your thoughts. Granted, these are just ideas on the top of my head without trying it, be it with timing, music, cues, etc.

I would be curious about using your idea of having the old lines playing, maybe with a kind of echo effect or some kind of distortion, specifically regarding your ideas here:

As her eyes close on the bridge, have the line from Return of the Jedi faintly play “You have a power I don’t understand” explosion occurs,
“and could never have.” Leia is floating in space.
“You’re wrong leia.” Leia opens her eyes.
“You have that power too.” Shot of leia’s hand.

The rest of it is tricky. Pretty much remove ALL the flying part of the scene with some shots that take up time that ends the scene with her hand on the glass window of the door that then opens up. You know she uses the Force to survive but we don’t see how. For those who do not have a problem with the visual of her flying in space … hats off to you for it not bothering you. But for me, and many others … it’s just so odd and very Un-Star Wars. So goofy…