Honestly that still would have sucked shit. I’m not sure in what way it would have been better.
No confusion as to when Palpatine procreated and with whom?
That’s hardly the worst part about her being his granddaughter.
The previous two movies setting up that Rey is “nobody”.
Part of the point of her being “nobody” is her being “random.” If she was created as a clone of Palpatine, then thematically you’re left in essentially the same spot as her being his granddaughter.
Her “cave vision” seeing a bunch if duplicates of herself would actually make sense instead of being imagery for imagery sake?
It’s not imagery for imagery’s sake, it’s playing on the idea of identity (a nod to Citizen Kane), her looking herself in the mirror, etc. If she was a clone that’d be a terribly literal outcome, no? Like if Luke was a clone of Vader and that’s why he saw himself under the mask.
I admit it’s not the most spectacular idea, but it at least makes more sense than what we got.
Truthfully it’d probably raise more questions (if she’s a clone of Palpatine why is she a she? Why is she in particular important if there are others? Why does she have parents?) and I have no idea how you’d accomplish it.