So we could have Dooku instead of Sidious, until "Palpatine" reveals himself as "Sith" to Mace Windu ?

hm, with "confusing" Maul and Anakin as Luke's father: I rather would think Vader is lying to lure Luke to the Dark Side or other possibilities as for "Obi-Wan killed your father" (or OB1 is your father ...)

as I mentioned before, if Maul has NO scene with "Padme", why should he be Luke's father ?!

Sidious snatching the burned body and turning it into "Darth Vader" works really well, if the face closeups are cut - so the transformation is kept and even the hidious "NO" could be redone to something meaningful ;-)

as for another connection, some have brought up: the apperance of Yoda (in the PT/general) - I never had the impression that some other "Jedi Warrior" would be on Dagobah, it was the same introduction used as for Obi-Wan, the only person in a desolated place, knowing the "name" => 1+1=2 meaing HE is the guy (who Luke sought)

therefore the "great" mystery of Yoda isn't one, at least not for me (or others) - but he should play a minor role in the PT - the idea suggested, he should be like the Dalai Lama (the template for that figure) and guide ALL or single Jedi in training (as Ben told Luke ...)