One of the issues in TPM that confused me, was that a Trade Federation, some kind of shipping conglomerate with a 'trade franchise' ("robber barons" as called in the original Star Wars scripts) suddenly had an army and were invading planets.

Instead of "as you know, this blockade is perfectly legal" from the Nemoidian, if there was more "What the hell is the Trade Federation DOING??!?" from the heroes would have sold the fact Sidious was manipulating them into something drastic, instead of the TF just slightly overstepping the bounds of legal armed blockades into semi-legal invasion.

Imagine if CostCo suddenly invaded Oregon and claimed it. It would be shocking, out of character, and hint that perhaps there's a real menace, a PHANTOM menace, going on.