Well; it looks as if the gap between III and IV was the only place available to set the ground for VII; and to a certain point, I agree.

Rebels is set in a strategic time-lapse, which is the most unknown of the current cannon, yet undeniably still within the Star wars world we know.

If they went further back, that would be the PT realm; and start off a copletely new story was near impossible without an anchorage on what happened before; Phantom Menace syndrome.

And while I dig the new stormtrooper design as well, I like it per se; but a part of me was hoping to see the same designs from the OT; or at least to see the change HAPPEN on screen, and not just start from scratch with brand new designs.

Old tech endures and even coexists with newer gadgets in this universe. That's the principle because we saw a piece of junk in the OT. And that's why also, even if the designs aren't the best, I always digged to see some "old" PT ships in the SEs and particularly in the battle of Endor.