WHY did Lucas even write the story that way? WHY? Why would he write such a MAJOR and EASILY AVOIDABLE continuity error. From the very beginning everyone asssumed that Padme would survive all the prequels because she had to live long enough for Leia to remember her.
It's like Lucas decided to give OT fans the finger by making Padme die. "You don't like my prequels, well screw you!"
Now most of you who know me know I don't hate Lucas and that I find the prequels to be entertaining movies and vastly underrated segments of a classic story... ANd normally I would never suggest something like this.
BUT I wrack my brain and this is the ONLY explanation I can think of. *sigh* I've been hanging around you negative people too long.