DarkFather said:
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. A man has to live up to what people expect of him.

Lucas didn't have to do anything. You wanted him to, I wanted him to, we all wanted him to - but that's all it is - our desires to be given what we wanted, what we hoped for. There was no contract, no guarantee, no unwritten law - no have to.

Lucas didn't have to make a single film after Star Wars. His reputation at the time, followed by his contribution to Indiana Jones, Empire, etc - those things were\are set in stone and have their place in cinema history. His work in the 90s and beyond is there to either be watched or ignored - nothing more. If you dig it - watch it. If you don't - then ignore it (as I have).

But either way, fans don't have some inalienable right to spew hate. They can do it alright, and many of us do - myself included - but it's not because some sort of reputational expectations contract has been broken.

You said it yourself;

In those fans' minds, Lucas betrayed them.

Fans can expect all sorts of things - that doesn't mean a director has to deliver them. For me, he delivered six times (below). A pretty damn good record in my book. I'd certainly dig it if I could get a proper release of Star Wars77, but that doesn't mean I have a right to it.

American Graffiti

Star Wars

Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Temple Of Doom

Last Crusade

Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull

*edited to better convey that I was speaking in general terms, not of any one fan in particular.