I didn't feel any need to dispute that. Of course Disney is trying to maximize their income, and they are not above screwing up a script just to produce marketable sales. I just don't think that's the primary reason why they screw up scripts. I think they have been on a roll of screwing up scripts for some time, because they do not have the mental foundation necessary to do otherwise. Their world view is warped.
To the matter of cognitive abilities of 13 year olds, if you are suggesting that they are capable of understanding the dynamics of the Kirk-Spock-McCoy, Luke-Han-Leia, or Rey-Finn-Poe triangles, I disagree. Thirteen-year-olds are not experienced enough to grasp the subtleties.
I'm suggesting that they lack real world experience, and instead rely on virtual reality and group think for much of their outlook on the world.
I accept that today's children would rather play Wii baseball than go outside and play on a real baseball field. I accept that today's children find it easier to find 18 "friends" online to field an online game rather than find 18 neighbors to meet at the local schoolyard field.
I think, at that age, that's about as far ahead kids will think until they are older.
But I also think that thirteen year olds haven't lived long enough to understand the adult relationship dynamics that lie just below the surface of love-hate-jealousy, and so that's all they see at that point in their lives. When they become sixteen or seventeen and experience their first deep crush and loss, they react explosively because there aren't adult influences today to guide them through these new emotions, so they lash out in despair instead of take the hurt and let it fade over time.
Back to the character triangle, if Kirk-Spock-McCoy represented action-reason-emotion, then Han-Leia-Luke played those same archetypes. I suppose the new characters to fill these roles would be Poe-Rey-Finn. We'll have to see how these characters grow in their archetypes without the aid of an Obi-Wan, Yoda, or Luke to mentor and guide them (unless Luke returns in spirit form).
However, to a thirteen year old, they focus on the Evil Ben Solo, the friendship of Poe and Finn, the potential love triangle of Poe-Rey-Finn, or Rey-Finn-Lucy. Kylo Ren is Ming The Merciless or Snidley Whiplash, Rey is Pauline in "peril," and Poe/Finn are the heroes who rescue her from the buzz saw or oncoming train... to a thirteen year-old, that is. In fact, my own 10-year-old nephew likes Ren because it let's him play at being bad.
Perhaps if today's education system prepared children by exposing them to characters like Tom Sawyer-Slave Jim-Huck Finn in the archetypes, they might learn to see beyond surface characterizations? But in any event, Disney will appeal to the surface characterizations in their theme parks as they offer simulation attractions, dress-up stores, and live-action shows for the kids.
-PJ