I just don’t see what good could come from him being in exile without disillusionment. What, was he just sitting there waiting for someone to come get him? And as soon as they did he’d go “Okay, well since you found me, I’ve totally changed my mind and decide to take on the whole First Order with a laser sword”?
Exactly. Everything people hated in TLJ can be traced to Abrams’ choices (or lack of depth) in TFA.