This is a really great thread guys. I love reading everyones ideas for the prequels that might have been, although it just makes me feel even worse about what we actually got. When I see this kind of stuff it becomes clear to me that, try as they might, fan edits will never give us the Episodes 1, 2, and 3 we deserved. That won't stop us from trying though!

Bootfit: That was an excellent scene, and I hope you expand it into a larger work.

Auraloffalwaffle: You have some great thoughts on how the prequels should been, but I am especially interested in your "SW '77" version of the saga. It would certainly be a unique way of telling the story. Your dilemma on the "I am your father" plotpoint really got me thinking:

Back in 1980, when Vader made this revelation, did everyone necessarily think this meant Darth Vader was in fact Anakin Skywalker (and I know that name was not in the public domain until RotJ, but I'm using it here to make my point better)? Growing up with the knowledge of Vader=Anakin, the thought never crossed my mind, but based on how the facts were presented at that point, would it not have been in the realm of possibility that Vader and Anakin were still two different people, as you suggested, and Vader had impregnated Anakin's wife, resulting in Luke? Of course the entire dynamic of redemption and such in RotJ would have been radically different, but this scenario would have made for a equally if not superior story. Not to mention this totally salvages Obi-Wan's character, as he is being completely truthful about Anakin with Luke in ANH, going with the assumption that he is Luke's proper father. Does anyone think Lucas may have considered going in this direction but decided against it as it would make for a rather dark story? It would be just another example of him selling out in RotJ.

Wow, I'm really excited about this version of the Star Wars saga now! In fact, if you don't write it, I might!