Bobocop said:
It seemed apparent to me (before the PT) that Yoda and the Emperor both had reached a level of force prowess where a saber was no longer necessary. Yoda of course would want Luke to be able to defend himself, but his main focus should be mind over matter.

I believe JasonN is of this same impression, and as you say before PT I was too of this school of thought, and the subject of lightsabering I could stretch it as far as Yoda controlling the saber with his mind and moving it telekinetically while he remains static in a trance-like position and the saber is breaking all hell loose.....of course GL had a different vision of the venerable master...

Under this vision ESB with a floating fighting saber would have been much easier to accomplish optically instead of having the puppet go "Jackie Chan" on us like in AOTC (creating that weird double take: 1 min Jackie Chan Vs Dooku, the next: the old master again)