I like your idea of Snoke being the dark side itself and the First Order being an ancient organization that inspired the Empire. That explains why Snoke would lead a regime with so much resemblence to Palpatine’s, establishes Snoke as a bigger bad than Palpatine, and fits with the TFA novelization’s references to Rey hearing Snoke’s voice (if Snoke is the dark side itself, temptation by the dark side = hearing Snoke’s voice). Maybe the yellow eyes normally seen on the Sith indicate some sort of possesion by Snoke and Kylo doesn’t have those eyes because Snoke didn’t bother using his possesive powers on Kylo, instead preferring a willing servent? Maybe VIII or IX could reveal that the First Order absorbed what was left of the Empire rather than being formed from what was left of the Empire.
Thank you very much for the feedback! I’ve actually abandoned all of these ideas in the last several months as I’ve continued to develop the outline for my rewrite, but upon reading your reflection on the First Order/ Snoke thing, I’m thinking of maybe bringing that one particular idea back and try to integrate it with my current ideas in some shape or form.