welcome to the boards dude! I like the ideas that you have for Jedi. That would have been a much better story to go with. I still would have keeped the line that yoda gave about a sister, I just wouldn't make leia the sister. The reason why I'd leave it in is it would have set up forthe next trilogy somewhat. I also would have tried to have anakin turn without having him die.
On the subject of Lucas, yeah he is more of a storyteller than a film guy. He fell in love with film becausee he could use it to tell stories. Sure THX and american Grafetti were good, but he had help on Grafetti (I know I'm spelling the word wrong). And THX was really different for that time. I am looking forward to seeing what he'll do next though