I understand what you are coming from Dominic, but we are just going by what the movie presented. Now, you can look at outside sources to help build a picture, but again, I think the topic is what the MOVIE is really showing and implying. That’s where I am in the boat of trying to make the movie explain things without relying on OUTSIDE material to get the “full” picture.
At the risk of continuing this circle, I’ll just reiterate that my interpretation is what I got from the movie on my first two viewings, it’s not based on anything else. My point about the supplemental material is that I think that what I saw was quite possibly what they intended, so I don’t think the film is a definitely pro-puppet as people seem to imply. As I said before I think they purposefully leave it vague.
EDIT: Just saw ROgue’s comment. I do like the idea that Hal had was to remove the Snoke bodies and have body parts to be Palps that helps paint the picture of cloning … parts for him.
I think Palpatine clones would be fun, although it might raise questions in regards to Palpatine’s appearance. I think RL probably presents the absolute simplest solution to get rid the Snoke puppet idea - just cut out “you have ever heard.”