And why wouldn’t Rey - Force Healer extraordinaire - just fix the crystal then? I just feel like it will open up more questions than answers, and it won’t lead as effectively to the sabers shorting out after the fight (assuming that effect is still on the list as well).
Kyber crystals ARE actually alive in canon. The reason a crystal turns red is because a Sith makes it bleed. As a result, I’m fairly certain that your first question there is actually the reason as to why her lightsaber doesn’t crackle in the original film. She healed the crystal with her powers. That’s also why she clearly knew about force healing while approaching the snake.
That being said, I prefer to have the crackly saber. Nothing in the films themselves suggest the crystals are alive, so it’s better that Rey couldn’t fully repair the blade.