I honestly think that's exactly [i]why[/i] the people involved with Episode VII played it safe like that. I think the Force Awakens was just as much about winning back the trust of the fanbase after the Prequels and showing that the new team(s) knew what they were doing and what Star Wars was and what made it Star Wars as it was continuing the series and laying the foundation of a new trilogy. They played it safe because they pretty much had to after the Prequels.