I addressed the whole problem of the clone army and the mystery in a different way in SOTDS. I did toss the Dex scene and used the Analysis Robot to identify the dart, but it is established through new Mas Amedda dialogue that the Republc already had an army, but it basically wasn't strong enough any more to stand up to such a huge rebel force, and they desperately need a new, better army. Palpatine clears it after getting emergency power, and they all run over to Geonosis (without telling the audience that that's what they're going to do).
I think I tried removing the scene with Jango and Zam (which I agree is terrible) but there was the problem of what to cut to after Obi and Manakin finish speaking with Padme in her apartment. I know Magnoliafan, in his edit of Episode II cut to the sun setting over Coruscant (from EP1), but I don't want to resort to this unless I can get different enough footage.
I just faded to black on this one. People don't usually do that in edits, but the fade to black appears in the original SW several times, actually.
Good discussion....