Yes, removing it doesn’t contradict anything, but it also removes the subtle idea that he may not have been there the entire time since his mission with Luke.

I’m simply saying that I find the canon answer really dumb since it feels like Luke 2.0, and I appreciate the idea that he might have decided to travel there to guide them at the behest of Leia.

Sorry that I’m pushing against your idea but I fundamentally disagree that dramatic tension is more important than character motivation.

EDIT: I should also add that I am personally against removing anything else from the film at this point. Like Dom said, these sound like removals for the sake of change. Additions are a different topic entirely.