Despite me wanting to see a Ben Lives ending, I agree that I think Ascendant would work best to keep Ben dead, and have him appear as a Force ghost, like you said. A part of what persuaded me was the wonderful “Falcon and friends” version of the ending snooker and Poppa were working on. It definitely keeps the ending more Rey focused, rather than Rey and Ben focused.

I’m sure this will sound ironic coming from someone who is in the Reylo camp, but if this edit is going to leave Ben dead, a part of me kind of wonders if the kiss should go ahead and be cut too. Admittedly, I don’t think the romance was as explicitly set up in this film as it should have been. And going from the kiss and them happily smiling at each other, to Ben falling over dead, feels almost comedic. Maybe keeping it would show that future Jedi will be allowed to love, though.

Don’t get me wrong, I still want to see a Ben Lives edit that keeps the kiss and all that jazz, but if Ben is going to stay dead and leave no potential for a future romance, then what is the point of keeping it and tease/surprise the audience? However Ascendant goes, I think I’m fine with it either way.