When it comes to well-written fantasy stories, magic is special because it is rarely seen by the inhabitants of the world. I think Lucas understood this when he wrote the original Star Wars, and he remained disciplined with episodes V & VI. Whenever Obi-Wan, Luke, Yoda, Vader, or the Emperor used their powers, it was almost always around other Jedi's/Sith and not in view of the other main characters of the story. Vader did choke some fools out here and there, but that was about it. Lightsaber battles were something that were had in private, like an ancient martial arts competition.
The rareness of Jedi powers was also exhibited by Han Solo's comment:
Han Solo: Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.
Luke Skywalker: You don't believe in the Force, do you?
Han Solo: Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny.
And also by Vader's interaction here:
Darth Vader: Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
Admiral Motti: Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the rebels' hidden fort-...
[Vader makes a pinching motion and Motti starts choking]
Darth Vader: I find your lack of faith disturbing.
The comment by Admiral Motti seems particularly out of place given Vader's bad-assery only a few hours before at the end of Rogue One. Why would Motti dare make such a comment after Vader had just massacred a dozen Rebel fighters with his lightsaber? And why did Vader waste such awesome powers on a bunch of low-level nobodies? Doesn't he have storm troopers to handle that?
And only a few days later, he fought like a grandma against Obi-Wan, but they had this weird thing called "dialogue" while they were fighting. So it wasn't just a lightsaber duel, but something that moved the plot forward... And by losing that fight, Obi-Wan ended up winning. The lightsaber duels in those days were less about slapping light sticks together, and more about the personal growth that occurred while the duel was being fought.
George Lucas, as everybody knows, lost all sense of discipline when writing the prequels. Now four-armed robots could wield light sabers, kids could wield light sabers (and be killed by them), and having a high midichlorian count could help you win pod races. It's almost as if everything in the prequels was written with a merchandising perspective in mind.
Now that Disney owns the franchise, they are making Jedi powers even less special. Apparently, this power that was so rare that Han Solo had never encountered it in his smuggling career, and Admiral Motti openly mocked it as sorcery, is now wieldable by anybody that closes their eyes and "feels the force".
Any kid can be a Jedi now...even you! So come to the new Star Wars land on a 5-day pass and sign up for Jedi training with the whole family!