I always assumed Yoda would be much closer to nature, than the politicized way he was represented in the PT. I also always found it inconceivable that Palpatine could be this powerful Force user, but somehow the Jedi who could sense each other from the other side of the galaxy in the OT, suddenly were blind to the Sith operating under their very noses. To me the only option that made sense, was for Palpatine to have been a Jedi, perhaps even their leader (a parallel to Saruman in LOTR), secretly exploring the dark side of the Force, while slowly maneuvering the Jedi and more importantly himself to the center of power. Yoda would then be the oldest and wisest of the Jedi, who would obviously oppose such a move, causing a rift in the Jedi order with Palpatine and Yoda being leaders of opposite sides. This would also explain why Anakin would allign himself with Palpatine, who in this scenario is actually seemingly one of the good guys, rather than the devil incarnate. It also makes the idea, that the Jedi who oppose Palpatine can be painted as traitors and terrorists more believable. I also always believed Anakin was rejected by Yoda, because of his fiery temper, such that Obi-Wan felt compelled to train him in secret. Anakin would eventually become a hero in the clone wars, which in the above scenario would lead to Palpatine going over Yoda’s head, by formally inducting him in the order of Jedi Knights as a reward for his service, making Anakin his deputy. Then when the main body of Jedi led by Yoda finally rise up against Palpatine, who’s side is Anakin going to be on?