These are basically just empty buzzwords.
Nope, not really. And repeating the “but what 'bout the marketing” argument for the prequels is just tiresome at this point. If George only cared about merchandising money he would have done what Disney is doing with the ‘sequels.’
As far as creative bankruptcy goes, I’d call basing an entire trilogy on nostalgia without an actual story plan as pretty creatively bankrupt. This trilogy isn’t about anything and it contributes nothing to the story told in Episodes I - VI. It’s just a bunch of random stuff about random people set in the Star Wars universe. If the Skywalker Saga were a video game then the ST would be a $1.99 skin pack dlc.
These films are not made by Lucas, approved by Lucas, or even have a hair of Lucas’ involvement, so it can’t be an ending to his story.
Him being on set for a day as a courtesy visit doesn’t count as a contribution; if he had any role in the new films he’d be credited beyond just a “based on a story by…” credit.
Trevorrow has a bigger credit than Lucas on TROS and he left before the cameras started rolling.