While I think that might be the likely answer, I am also starting to think JJ and Co. needed a new big bad to have Rey’s team and Kylo’s team join forces. So to do that, they’re gonna have Palpatine come back. Nothing against Pappa Palpatine, but I think having a third party “Great Evil” is a contrived, or lazy, way to resolve the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order, or more specifically Rey and Kylo Ren. I personally wish they would find a way to resolve the conflict amongst themselves, but it really is pretty early to say what is going to happen (and if it will work/won’t work).