How would introducine 3P0 on the Lars farm be more appropriate than having Anakin build him? It still makes little sense (as opposed to having him be a generic Naboo droid that ended up in the adventure by accident and saved the day at some point in the third act-- that would have made the most sense. What a welcome and satisfying surprise that would have been-- to have him show up cranky and frightened, meet Artoo, help Artoo outwit some battle droids and assist Anakin -- and then have him drift back into the woodwork until Episode II).

The big question to answer for me is: In Episode II, why does Anakin show up at the Lars farm and take their droid? Why does such an important Saga character just pop up at the Lars farm?

I think the idea has potential-- but it raises those questions to me. Anyone else?