Not wanting to get anyones hope up...BUT....

[Angnoch]

Canon is a rather binary thing, meaning that things either are or are not canon. However, certain EU material does have a higher ranking than other EU material, not mention the fact that there are multiple levels of canon one thing trumps another.

In my opinion the levels are as follows in order:

The movies-number one and always will be
The novelizations of the movies-I actually think that they are just about the same as the movies but maybe slightly less reliable
Novels-these are really the second level imo
Comics-these are third simply because the novels and comics contradict multiple times and most of the SW fanbase I talk to count the novels higher
Games-are barely canon because the powers and numbers are highly exaggerated in order to convey a certain point ie. Revan is really really good
Assorted FanFic-NOT CANON I do not care what anyone says fanfic is nice to read and write but it has no canon value whatsoever

[Phoenix of Terra]

Star Wars Trilogy III FTW!!!

[Apadizamek]

Bah, this is one of the reasons I loathe the new films.

Palpatine and Yoda weren't meant to be "fighters." They were the backseat manipulators/mentors on the opposite ends of the spectrum. The idea that the Emperor worked his way to the top through plotting, scheming and manipulating alone was an extremely effective one. So was the concept of Yoda at this wise, buddha type character offering wisdon and advice from the sidelines.

This was of course before the new films turned them into action figure achetypes..

God i'm agreeing with Mordack. Something is terribly wrong here.

He's correct though, Yoda was far too old, Palpatine far too corrupt to fight. They are manipulators, brilliant generals to use the pawns of Luke and Vader to their full advantage. Turning them into fighters could have been cool, perhaps some form of mental attacks at each other or something but lightsabers are silly.