…this is why I think the new way forward is to gradually reveal that Jean has cosmic ties OUTSIDE of the Phoenix Force. I'm exhausted by the Phoenix mythos already. It's not coming back and I'm not going to lose my mind hoping and raging for it to come.
Four of the most important moments in Jean's history indicate that she is beyond the Phoenix on some levels, or at least parallel to it - ON HER OWN. You have the "infinite mental powers" description from the 1960s; you have the Destiny panels describing her as “a nexus of probabilities” and “an anomaly”; AND you have time-displaced teenage Jean taking control of the White Hot Room WITHOUT ever having bonded with the Phoenix Force. Like, the material is there and ripe for the picking.
How would I tie it to the Phoenix Force? As I said, I would make the revelation be that the Phoenix Force was attracted to Jean because she has cosmic ties to something greater than even it. I would subvert the whole thing.
Perhaps even make it that the Phoenix Force lost control because it couldn't handle HER power. I mean, I know I'm going out there, but it can be done. The One-Above-All could be the ultimate direct connection.
My point is, there are ways to allow Jean to transcend her Phoenix days without taking anything away from her and actually enhancing her story, powers, and history. Of course, this sort of reveal would happen gradually and delicately. A hint her, a hint there. Like in the latest issue, her defeating a Class 3, i.e., extradimensional, Demon...WITHOUT the Phoenix Force.