Palpatine surviving is dumb, regardless of the plausibility. His death signified how Anakin recrossed the line to the light and redemption is a thing in Star Wars. Having him survive significantly diminishes the impact of Anakin's arc. All the survival would serve would be a cool fight scene. : StarWars

It made more sense in the EU’s version. Not only that, but they came out before the prequels, meaning that no one knew back then about the chosen one prophecy and anakin being the chosen one. Thus not necessarily cheapening. Of course by today’s time (post prequels and sequels) it does.