I’ll accept the saber point (even if I still think this whole religious reverence for lightsabers was mainly started by the angry fan reaction to TLJ), but didn’t Rian literally say that the reason he came up with the “Luke almost killed Ben” backstory was because Luke wouldn’t just hide away out of fear? It wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to his mistake that caused Luke to exile himself: he genuinely thought the galaxy would be better with the Jedi gone.
Nah, it was started with Kenobi in AOTC. “This weapon is your life”. As for Rian’s justification, I can see that. But perhaps Luke was referring to the fact that it was fear which led him to consider attacking his nephew? Maybe a better wording of this would be “It was fear that led me here.” Could definitely be dubbed over.
How is Luke raising the X-Wing poetic in any way, other than the most surface level? All it seemed like to me was yet another one of JJ’s beloved “ZOMG I RECOGNIZE THAT THING, I LOVE STAR WAAAAAAAARRRRRRSSSSS!!!” moments, blandly recycling iconic imagery from the OT with no regard for context, emotion, or logic. And Luke probably would have died if he showed up to Crait in person, but he had no way of knowing that. If he had a choice between going to Crait in person and possibly dying, or going to Crait with a life-draining astral projection technique and definitely dying, then he looks like an idiot for choosing the latter.
Because Luke couldn’t do it in ESB. He was angry and exclaimed that it’s impossible. Then Yoda proves him wrong. “Size matters not” and all that. What was impossible for Luke before is possible now. The subtext of the scene is that nothing should be impossible for Rey going forward, as well. This is what Leia is teaching her at the beginning of the movie.
The only explanation for your other point is his earlier line criticizing Rey for thinking he’s gonna face down the whole First Order with a laser sword. Luke probably realized how futile it would be to come in person and wanted to try something special.
This is a good point, but I feel like there could be a way to convey this even in a cut that removes Ach-To. Maybe during the “Be with me” scene, instead of hearing the voices of Jedi she doesn’t even know, Rey could hear Luke and Leia’s voices instead? They could say that despite Rey’s [INSERT SECRET DARK BACKSTORY HERE] (which they would logically know about due to being ghosts), they still have faith in her, and encourage her to rise and face her fears. That way, you could deliver the same emotional payoff originally contained in the Ach-To scene, only in a much more logical place given the main tension of the climax.
Would be interesting and entirely possible. Although the film definitely sets up ALL of the Jedi responding to her due to her first line “I don’t think it’s possible. To hear the voices of the Jedi who came before.” Then Leia responds with what Luke has learned and imparted to her “Nothing’s impossible.” Would definitely be emotionally resonant, but would make the Force ghosts kinda come out of nowhere since some of them wouldn’t have lines. Not worth removing Ahch-To over, either IMO.