Huh, that is another good point I hadn’t really considered. Then Poe could better fit into the role of Leader as he was meant to be, more wise and mature. I think Leia could have died earlier in the film, possibly whenever Kylo is almost killed/left for dead by Hux and the Knights of Ren.

Either way, Leia’s death should’ve propelled Poe into a stronger leadership role than what we really saw. I’ve said this before, but I think you could’ve kept the whole plot about sending a message throughout the galaxy as Colin had it set up, but imagine if the message was supposed to be from Leia, but after she dies, Poe thinks all is lost and doubts his own abilities, but in the end he ends up being the one to send that message. I think seeing Poe starting out as that hotshot pilot from the beginning of TFA, to a leader calling on the galaxy to take a stand against the First Order, would’ve been a great arc for him.