This does remind me of the often brought-up complaints regarding the First Order’s scale and resources. I’ve heard this constantly since TFA came out, but I also wish the First Order was more ragtag, like the Rebels used to be.

Since we can’t really do that in a fan edit, I do think a TFA edit could say that a part of the New Republic split off and reunited with the Imperial Remnant, giving them the resources they needed to challenge the Republic. But I think this would contradict Leia saying that the other senators don’t take the First Order threat seriously (as well as Poe’s surprise at how advanced the Finalizer was).

An idea many brought up over the years was the idea of Starkiller base being like the Star Forge. It would explain how the First Order were able to build a fleet ready for a full-scale war, without the New Republic realizing the scale of the threat. It would also solve the narrative problem of Death Star 3.0…

But… when you get to TLJ, you run into the problem of how Finn’s story arc implies the wealthy arms dealers of the galaxy had been profiting off both sides of the war. It doesn’t necessarily contradict it, but it would be confusing to show the First Order having the capability of building their own fleet in TFA, but then imply that they are buying their ships from arms dealers in TLJ. I guess you could argue that the First Order would have to start buying from arms dealers after the destruction of Starkiller Base…