Completely agree that episode 7, and episode 4 are jumping points and the true legacy will be decided in 8 and 9. But here’s hybrid RoTS fan edit vs TFA comparison:
Story/ideas: RoTS>TFA
Characters: RoTS<TFA
Action: RoTS<TFA
Humor: RoTS<TFA
First Act: RoTS<TFA
Second Act: RoTS<TFA
Third Act: RoTS=TFA
Emotional Impact: RoTS<TFA
Immolation Scene<Hans Death Scene
Fixed that for you.
The immolation scene comes close but I don’t care about Anakin and I care a little about Obi-Wan whereas in TFA I care a great deal about both Han and Ben Solo. And in terms of characters in general there’s no one that really stands out in ROTS with the exception of Obi-Wan and Palpatine. In TFA we have Rey, Finn and Poe (who are instantly likable unlike most “characters” in the PT) Han, Chewie and Leia who still have the same great chemistry from the OT and a great character (but not yet a fully realized villain) in Kylo Ren. The emotional impact of ROTS is next to nil for me. A bunch of Jedi I don’t care about had nothing on when Han says:
Han Solo: Take off that mask. You don’t need it.
Kylo Ren: What do you think you’ll see if I do?
Han Solo: The face of my son.
or when even after he’s stabbed he reaches out and touches his son’s face as he is dying. Even though I didn’t cry when Han died the 4th and my most recent viewing of TFA made me come dangerously close to it. Even things like when Rey scratched her wall for everyday she’s on Jakku hits me more emotionally than anything in ROTS. Mainly because I actually care about the characters.