Yeah I don't get the Box office argument.. To me there is enough issues with the film to rip apart on its own.. Acting like its collection of Billions is a bad thing is strange to me.. Of course some use its box office to point to the fact it is a quality product.. Either way its not like Bad movies have never made huge $$$ and great movies failed to make back its budget.
IMO People singing the praises of the PT probably comes from 3 different points of view
1. Fans of the PT who legitimately think the PT is much better then the ST
2. People who after seeing TLJ and hated it now don't think the PT is all that bad after all
3. People who like to use the PT to pound on TLJ even more as a point of reference of how "really" bad.
I would say most here probably fall under 1 or 2. I don't think there seem to be any haters who just want to hate for hates sake.
I would say I fall under 1 and 2... I never hated the PT as much as some.. Though I would never call myself a fan. But after TFA and TLJ (more TFA) I can appreciate George Lucas' imagination with his characters and world building.
But make no mistake, for me, the PT is a mess due to its poor directing but I prefer the story and imagination it has compared to the ST. The ST is a mess due to poor writing but I prefer the look/direction and acting performances to the PT.
In the end I will find it easier to watch the PT because it has more imagination on screen then what the ST has to offer so far.. But that is in no way praise for the PT
Having said that.. A great 3rd film to the ST could save it and propel it past the PT.. Though TFA will always remain a hard watch for me no matter what... Right up there with AOTC.