I think the filmmakers were in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for the sequels. Making brand new characters and having little to no iconography of familiar elements might not have jived with the mainstream audience. I’m a lore junkie, so I’m an exception.
JazzyTyfighterYou’re not wrong, but I think the sequel trilogy was going to have legacy characters regardless. It’s not a spoiler, but I’m glad the opening narration and images show that The Ninth Jedi is so far into the future from TROS.