I suppose being introduced to the oppressed kids at that point in the movie along with what would become a sentiment of “I wish I could do something about this place but we have our mission” would make the film’s epilogue more inspiring.
Finn and Rose can’t do everything everywhere there’s trouble, but YOU can. Eh?

I will mull this over, and maybe by the time I get my revisions of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 out the door I can make a quick stop at TLJ again. But probably not until after 9 is out, in case anything about it has influence over editing TLJ.