If the OT was released in today’s climate, it would receive the exact same level of ridicule as the prequels and sequels.
That is highly unlikely. I would argue that most of us (even within this forum) first saw OT years or tens of years after its initial release and it still evoked the same overwhelmingly positive reactions. Actually some of us even first saw OT as 1997 SE and it still did not change that positive reaction.
It is not “today’s climate” (whatever that means) to be blamed. ST is just crap and it so no matter in what climate you put it in.