I’d agree that a Vaderless PT would be absolutley fine. Maybe alluded to in a dream sequence perhaps, but it doesn’t need revealing.

Think about the Force Awakens - and the huge gaps in narrative between itself and ROTJ (ie new characters being born, later being corrupted - mysterious Snoke etc). I feel this works fine - so surely presenting a huge level of mystery between the PT and ANH would work aswell?

Imagine just watching the clone wars series, then seeing the OT. You would have that same realisation of surprise that the Republic, Jedi, Clones and droid armies are all gone. The few expositional conversations would suggest the political changes (as they did for the audience in '77). You would still believe that Anakin was a great guy, and feel gutted when you learn he was murdered.

I reckon the future of PT editting lies in these anthology films. Either creating Anakin biopics in the anthology format, or using anthology films to fill in for Ep3 etc.