I know the Worst Ideas thread isn’t usually the place for nuanced discussion, but I’ve never seen ESB and AOTC compared in this way. I wonder how AOTC could’ve been plotted differently to be more like ESB.

Maybe, instead of relenting, Anakin could’ve jumped out of the ship and left Obi-Wan to fight Dooku on his own. Obi-Wan loses and Dooku escapes, and we’re left to wonder if Anakin had stayed, could the war have ended the day it began? This could fuel Anakin’s motivation to fight in this war and take more drastic measures to try and end it, leading him on the path to the dark side.