It’s most likely just a JJ-ism. TFA also had A LOT of its meat cut out.

-The flashback sequence explaining how the Saber reached Maz
-Flashback of young Ben being dropped off at Lukes temple
-New Republic subplot
-Constable Zuvio subplot
-Resistance superweapon subplot
-Phasma on Takodana
-Maz giving Leia the saber
-Maz using the force to break the heroes out of the castle
-Unkar hunting down Rey.
-and more stuff.

I guess JJ got away with it then but it seems to have caught up with him in TROS.
My pipe dream is for Disney to eventually release the Assembly cuts of all the star wars films on Disney plus.