I've always been open to the political aspects of Star Wars. George Lucas aimed to create something hopeful that would contrast with the dark, somber, and cynical cinema of the 1970s, but several of the seeds for Star Wars came from his perspective living in the era of Vietnam. That said, I can't say that the politics in the prequels ever really worked for me. When I do bother to return to the prequels, it is because of some of the movie magic that I appreciate. But you make a good case for reconsidering the prequels' politics.