Name me one moment in any existing Star Wars film where you needed more information about kyber crystals than what you had been given to that point in order for the film to work? There isn't one. You don't need to know how lightsabers are powered in order for lightsaber fights to work. You don't need to know what makes the Death Star laser work in order for Episode IV to work. So no, they have never been critical plot elements to any Star Wars film. They were notable in Rogue One but not in a way that needed any more information than was given.M.C. Swag said:Ag Since 83 said:
But it's not a critical plot element! This is the story of getting the Death Star plans not how the Death Star works.
...you don't think the common mineral that fuels every light saber and the Death Star not to be a critical plot element? Look beyond R1 dude. If Kyber crystals are the only natural resource that can produce Jedi and Sith weaponry, how is that not critical? I guarantee it's going to come up again in future movies.
As viewers we can't demand that each film provide us new information about this universe and then when we are given that information say "well why didn't we get that 40 years ago?"
If knowing the inner workings of lightsabers and Death Stars is that important to you, you might need to consider reading the books and comics and playing the games. Otherwise, you don't care that much so stop complaining about the fact that information isn't as important as you think it is.