I agree with everything you said about the movie's flaws, but yeah, somehow Rian Johnson just made it work. I especially liked how the story didn't always go as expected (Rey's parents, Kylo's non-redemption, Leia surviving) and the humorous moments worked better than in any of the previus movies.

that scene of Laura Dern ripping through a star destroyer at light speed is impossibly cool
I have never heard such absolute silence in a movie theatre than during that scene. I don't think anyone in the audience was even breathing :D