Yes! Exactly! I think TPM already works the best as a standalone film, and could easily be the New Hope of the trilogy.

I wouldn't want to start on Tatooine as Tatooine is the slowest part of the movie. At least starting on Naboo, we get some good sword fighting right off the bat. I will be getting to Anakin faster though. Actually, I'll be getting to everything faster. One of the big points of this is a complete pacing overhaul.

I'm kind of in love with this blu-ray transfer. It looks fantastic.

EDIT: I like the fuel source idea, but I was thinking of adjusting the concept of Naboo being a backwater planet. That's a pretty elegant backwater planet. I was thinking of finding something that would make it appear more important.

For instance, in Duel of the Fates, Naboo is right in the middle of five different trade routes. Since the Senate has exorbitantly raised the trade taxes, the Trade Federation has cut off Naboo, pretty much halting all trade in the galaxy.

It's still the taxation thing, which I'm not crazy about, but at least Naboo becomes important.