3.The amazing darth_ender once said:
You know, I suspect that if these movies came out in sequential order rather than OT, then PT, people would see them as inferior but still decent films. The passion on this board amuses me. I certainly don't like the PT nearly as much, but I can still watch and enjoy them. In my mind, I can incorporate them into my personal Star Wars canon or disregard them, depending on my mood.
To keep with the point of the thread, I would like to comment on one particular aspect which I know has been criticized, but seems logical to me, especially in light of the EU and reality. As we know, power corrupts. Any power like the force would be so tempting as to be truly corrupting. In the Star Wars universe, I suspect that when the force was first discovered, most wielders found themselves utilizing it for evil. As Yoda said, the dark side is quicker, easier, more seductive. But it is not more powerful. As those who learned to use the force become more aware of its capabilities, they also realized that great discipline must accompany its mastery, else the user would fall to the dark side.
So now we get to the PT. The Jedi are an extremely rigid and disciplined group. They are indeed powerful force users, but only because they are willing to take years to master the good rather than days to master the evil. But at the same time, their rigidity contributed to Anakin's fall, their inability to detect Palpatine's growing influence, and it ultimately led to their downfall.
To sum up, I know most do not like the portrayal of the Jedi Order, but to me, it is actually a logical system for security that simultaneously leads to their demise. I like this idea. The dark side is not stronger, but the light is so difficult to master.
I said this elsewhere which actually prompted you to quote yourself once before, Tyrph, though you only included one of those quotes. I think you say it so well, however. This parallels many of our aspirations today. We have a wonderful system in place (none in specific, but I'm sure you could fill in your own). It contributes greatly to the benefit of many people. Then one day, a single person is harmed or defects or something like this. We order an expensive and thorough investigation into what caused this problem in order to appease the masses. We then restructure the system so it is stricter, less enjoyable, more unwieldly, more beauracratic, more time-consuming. The employees are less happy and are now faced with greater responsibility and fewer resources at their disposal than before. This all holds up for a time, but barely. But to the outside observer it appears that the problem has been fixed. Ultimately, the new system fails drastically and self-destructs. Everybody ends up wondering what happened.
I'm actually venting a little, because the Jedi Order and my last job have a lot in common. They have restructured behavioral health in my little corner of the state in order to "fix" some problems, but ultimately it has created an unsustainable system that is supposed to be perfect. When you deal with humans, you have to take into account their needs. The Jedi Order failed to do this and resultantly are largely responsible for the creation of Darth Vader. So is the phantom menace known as Cenpatico, the Grand Moff of behavioral health in parts of AZ and other states.
But let me refer again to your post Tyrphanax as a reason that I enjoy the PT. As I've said time and again, it is clearly inferior to the OT, but on the other hand, it has supplemented and enriched my enjoyment of many aspects of the OT, including my understanding of the flaws of the old Jedi and my hopes for Luke's new Jedi Order.