Hal 9000 said:

But someone in a theater in 2005 was supposed to see it as a will-be remodeled Taintive IV? Does anyone have the novelization handy, to reference?

I was 12 when RotS came out, and I do remember assuming it to be the Tantive IV, mostly because it was mirroring the opening of ANH with the halls and 3PO. I don't think I realized it would need retrofitting or anything. The Novelization does reference the Tantive IV, which might have been why I thought it was the Tantive IV. Dang. I miss being 12. Star Wars was so much simpler then.