I think the HAL 9000 idea actually came from TM saying that he didn't like the analysis droid scene that much, and what he would really prefer would be to digitally replace the jedi analysis droids with a sort of jedi analysis computer, and he gave HAL 9000 as an example as to what it might look like. I actually think this would work, and that it would fit in with the OT style of things quite well (I mean a big analysis computer, not actually HAL himself), it would make more sense to have a computer that can scan things and tell you what kind of technology it is and where it is from rather than some droids who attend punk concerts during their off hours.