Pretty much all the issues in the OP can also be applied to A New Hope if you take that movie by itself. Luke's backstory started and ended at "whiny kid who worked on a farm", we knew next to nothing about the Empire or the rebels, a random planet we knew next to nothing about was destroyed, and so on.
Was the new movie perfect? No, but I can't help but feel you wanted to hate the movie.
Bets:
1. If the Wii U sells closer to 10 million LTD by 1/3/2015 I win. If it sells closer to 9.5 million LTD by 1/3/2015 OfficerRaichu15 wins (winner gets 2 weeks of avatar control)--Lost.