The crystal must be set when building it. It doesn't work until after the crystal is 'messed with'. There's no need to change it after the fact, unless it falls out of alignment etc. There are also numerous cases in EU where the saber is not quite suited to a new user. Some think it's a saber design thing. Others think it's a Force thing.
It sounds like you're trying to ask why Sith need to do anything to the crystal. Heir to the Jedi and other stories have examples of sabers that subtly resist new users. Luke found an amethyst saber that felt slippery, regardless of how much he cleaned and dried it. He postulated that his father's saber didn't resist, because he is his father's son. I would expect Disney is suggesting a crystal, being strong in the Force, refuses the will of a Sith user or even the wrong Jedi user. Hence, a Sith bleeds the crystal to dominate it. It will likely come into play to explain why Anakin/Luke's saber went to Rey instead of Kylo.
Whatever the resistance, sabers can be used by anyone.
As I said before, I like the idea that perhaps the Sith is really changing the crystal for the sake of strengthening it. Such an idea was in Book of Sith. Some would think a modified crystal will be stronger. Others will think a natural crystal is stronger as it is in harmony with the will of the Force. But, it's not stated plainly in DC, that I know of. Just statements about dominating etc. A Sith messes with a crystal because a Sith is bullheaded and tries to dominate everything, instead of work with what is naturally available. I'd prefer we just have kept it as synthetic crystals for Sith with red sabers. That's DC's HarryPotter blend for ya.
I assume HTTJ is DC? In which case.....whatever. I am most displeased with this HP approach to sabers. In the BOTS, I believe the strength of a synth crystal was determined by the strength of the will that forged it. Which makes sense. Jedi frowned upon synth crystals, as they believed they were a temptation to quick power.
I believe it's a translucent rock that emits a high intensity beam when energized. Yes the Force is required to properly align the guts of a saber, but any idiot can turn one on.
Thusly my point...
The thing is, we've seen so few Sith and dark siders that we don't know why they have their lightsabers. Ventress was handed hers, so she didn't make them. Savage's was also likely handed to him by Dooku (I don't recall when he changed from a magic weapon to a Sith weapon), Dooku likely made his later lightsaber after leaving the Jedi Order as his new weapon suits fighting Jedi. Palpatine was hiding from the Jedi and likely made his own weapons that he could hide them on his person. Maul made his own saberstaff from what I remember so he could crush Jedi. Vader had to made a new one after Obi-wan took his old one. That might be pride with Vader. We don't know for sure if Kylo had a lightsaber before turning to the dark side, and after 50 year, it might be difficult to find a lightsaber left over from the Clone Wars.
Was there anyone else we have seen on the screen aside from the Inquisitors, who all have a special kind of weapon, that are dark siders? General Krell still used his old saberstaffs. Anakin used his old saber until after Mustifar.
According to DM: Shadow Hunter, Sidious told Maul to use a saber staff, and it was done. Sith and their various hierarchy of stooges may have been required to construct their own sabers as a demonstration of skill. Since OC Sith used synth crystals, it would have been an adequate demonstration of commitment since forging a synth crystal usually took at least several consecutive days of meditation to perfectly form the crystals in a furnace.
It seems that most saber variants are introduced through the Sith/Darksiders because they usually offer an advantage in combat. And true to form, most Jedi would look down on such advantages as unnecessary grabs for power.
This, again, has to do with adding more mysticism back into the Lore. Each crystal is attuned to a wielder, Darksiders can not attune themselves with a Crystal because of the Light Side leanings of the Kyber Crystals so they must bend the crystal to their will. Think on it this way. In a real world scenario, and I say this from experience, any competent swordsman can use any sword but when you find one that is "just right" or as in my case have one made to your specs...it will sing for you. This is of course comfort based but extend the idea to the crystals. As stated this may clue into why Anakin's saber went to Rey instead of Kylo. As far as I know no one has made the claim only force weilders can use Sabers. Grevious wasn't a force user nor was Pre Visla, Cad Bane or the thief who stole Ahsoka's saber. All were able to ignite and wield a lightsaber...some better than others..all within the Clone Wars.
I'm calling shenanigans. This is just another Jedi ploy to keep the Sith down because we don't buy into their rhetorical BS.
I'll site the line from the Grey code, "There can be no good without evil..." Just as death must be able to counter life, so too must the darkness exist to distinguish the light. So why is it that the "bad guys" get shafted in this mix? Kyber crystals are rocks, nothing more. Plus, DC or OC, the concept of the Force having a will just totally sours my stomach.
But I totally feel you on the note of the housing. Not everyone can handle the girth of the Scorpion but it suits me perfectly. But then that still begs the question, if you have a crystal and it works in one saber, why not simply leave it alone and use it to construct a new hilt better suited to your physiology? What's the need to "dominate" it? It's a rock, it doesn't have much personality.
Anakin and Obi-wan swap sabers in their duel for a bit, but there own sabers came back to them when called.
I don't recall this happening. Might require another viewing.
Hate them if you want, but allow me to give you somethings to ruminate on. Disney writes the checks and of course has the ability to nix anything they wish; BUT Lucasfilm, specifically Kathleen Kennedy and Pablo Hidalgo are in charge of the Star Wars content. Any decisions are most certainly theirs. The Disney acquisition, contrary to popular belief, revitalized the SW brand. Star Wars was never NOT a money maker in the last 30 years but with less than stellar feelings from fans towards the prequels, SW games and book sales down etc it was slowly bleeding. TFA is the highest grossing Star Wars film..ever. However you feel about the film you can't deny it's rejuvenated wider interest in Star Wars, will it Hold? We Will see. Now to Lucas himself. Lucas is a brilliant Idea man...but has limited vision and ability to bring said ideas to life. Empire and ROTJ are widely considered the best SW films..neither were directed by Lucas and both had the scripts re written (Lawrence Kasdan who also co wrote TFA). Lucas felt the SW Universe began and ended with Anakin, Nothing before his Birth (unless directly related) and nothing after his redemption and Death mattered. It's why we got Clone Wars instead of a continuation of the story. Lucas as well never considered the EU as anything other than an alternate universe to his own..but he was not above borrowing from it...no different that what is happening now. Indeed many EU fans have not been happy with Lucas since the prequels since a few things he set forth contradicted things in the EU...foremost was Boba's origin, and How the Mando's were depicted in Clone Wars REALLY made a lot of people mad..including one of the SW authors. Long and short of if, hate them if you will...won't try change your mind on it...but just keep in mind they at least had the balls to try and move forward instead of spinning their wheels .
According to Google, ANH is the 3rd highest grossing movie of all time (inflation accounted). If you're looking at simple box office numbers, TFA made the most because it had the highest ticket prices, not because more people went to see it. I will admit a 12yr dry spell in movies is enough to make the franchise slump a little, and a new movie, no matter how bad, is going to cause new surge of interest. I just wish that they get their heads out of their butts and realize that just because it's new doesn't make it good. Take Rebels. The best story points that have come up in that show have
ALL been from the OC. Vader, Maul, Ahsoka, the Sith Temple, Tarkin, Thrawn, Lando, Hondo. I've heard rumors that they are thinking about bring elements of TOR back into the canon. But I fear that if they don't get Revan right, there will be riots. I initially had an ill opinion of Ren's saber, but with decent explanation, it started making more sense. Plus despite being a required element to a design flaw, the quillions served a function in combat. That pleased me. But the Inq. sabers just defy all sound logic in design all for the sake of a stupid gimmick. And then they had them flight capable. (where'd I put that hurl emogi?)
Plus I finally pegged why they wrote Leia out of being a Jedi. They just had to have the old gang back together.
Not exactly Jedi material...
vs.
I don't hold it against people for being excited or even happy with the DC. But I firmly believe that it could be much better if fans didn't just blindly accept whatever Disney decides to feed them as good. And stop making kids shows canon. Can you imagine how stupid the franchise would be if LEGO SW mini-series were canon?
But as I've stated before, I will withhold final judgment until the movies are done. Who knows? Maybe TFA will end up being the TPM of this trilogy.
