Ryan McAvoy said:

But the ST films explored the characters aging in a beautiful melancholic way. Sometimes it was even quite tragic, McCoys father, Kirk having no kids etc. Hell UC is all about aging.

Not an approach that would work for the fun atmosphere of SW I feel. Just show the OT gang as older, don't make it a running gag JJ for christ sake.

Um...David Marcus doesn't count?

I don't mean the movie should be downbeat or melancholy, just that our heroes act with some maturity and experience gained in the thirty years since we last saw them on Endor. And knowing when to let the new characters do the heavy lifting. Luke can still get away with Jedi derring-do though and throwing the old JK rulebook out the window.