Tarantino does the same thing and I don't doubt either man's ability to produce engaging movies. I just think there are degrees of originality where I'd put Herbert and Burroughs at the highly creative end and Lucas at the "gimme good art & SFX departments while I skillfully cobble something together" end. And JJ Abrams doesn't even register on the scale.
Side note: Kenny Baker is the single nicest man I ever met in my life.