The Force is 'like Yoga'

[Rabid Southern Cross Fan]

Kasdan: The Force was available to anyone who could hook into it?

Lucas: Yes, everybody can do it.

Kasdan: Not just the Jedi?

Lucas: It’s just the Jedi who take the time to do it.

Marquand: They use it as a technique.

Lucas: Like yoga. If you want to take the time to do it, you can do it; but the ones that really want to do it are the ones who are into that kind of thing. Also like karate. Also another misconception is that Yoda teaches Jedi, but he is like a guru; he doesn’t go out and fight anybody.

Kasdan: A Jedi Master is a Jedi isn’t he?

Lucas: Well, he is a teacher, not a real Jedi. Understand that?

Given that this is how Lucas handled The Force back in the day, I suppose it doesn't seem to out of line that in the old Star Wars RPG you could use character points to become a Force-Sensitive. No midichlorians required, though I suppose one could find a way to incorporate them even in this sort of paradigm.

As I've gotten older, I find I like the original concepts behind Star Wars more than the actual delivered product. I especially don't like the Expanded Universe's take on The New Republic since it seems at odds with what would more likely happen once the Rebellion won at Endor: a sort of status quo antebellum peace - the Imperial Senate would be reconvened, but there would be a new Emperor (heck, Leia would be perfect to be elevated to Empress given her background on Alderaan). Of course, I also find it incredibly distasteful that Leia was Luke's sister since that completely negates Yoda's line from The Empire Strikes Back. Nellith Skywalker sounded a helluva lot more interesting than the ultimate squick moment when you realize Luke and Leia had been playing tonsil hockey more than once (and in Splinter of the Mind's Eye, its fairly well laid out that Luke has a clear sexual attraction to Leia).

I guess what I'm getting at is that it seems like Star Wars canon is so varied that you could probably pick A New Hope (which would be my choice) instead of The Phantom Menace as the ultimate basis for canon. That would mean Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker really were separate characters! Kinda like the Dark Horse comic for the rough draft of The Star Wars.