Lightsabers are an interesting conversation, at least potentially so. In this case, they really are much more useful as a figurative or symbolic technology in the story, rather than a de-facto part of it. Unfortunately, the prequils only use them as the latter, rather than as some sort of esoteric or symbolic reference to a past age of values, or some other jive like so. Of course you don't think of it this way when you see it, but it's something which gives the story a depth you can percieve at an unconcious level... and the prequils have little or none of that.
In fact, it might be better in general to think of things like that when writing fiction. There's only so much of a universe you can concieve or write, and so its extents are limited by you and your own understanding. And because it's likely you want to tell another story while telling a story on the surface, you have to imbue elements of the story with values which resonate with the viewer/reader based on things which we already understand from culture OR values we can demonstrate in the work itself. In short, make the most out of a story.
...The prequils did not do that as a rule: they sold a story rather than telling it. To people who watch anime in here, you probably see that a lot. And just in the case of many cartoons I've killed time with, the cheap plastic on the surface used to get the sale just doesn't hold up to hard use and/or scrutiny in the case of the prequils. And what might have been there was ruined by terrible production and design descisions.
To bring this nerd rant to an end, yes, the original trilogy was cheesy and campy in many, many instances. BUT, it had substance underneath that about everybody could resonate with, even if that substance was not anything life-changing or even profound. If the new series can do that besides (or better, over) the obvious want for the fake plastic (and likely pixulated) exterior, it might be good. But I don't think Hollywood likes depth in the majority of cases. Especially if explosions are involved.
