I said it makes more thematic sense that the Jedi of the prequels represent the iteration of the order at its peak martially, given the broader narrative constructs at play.
Nah, The PT order momentarily "straying from their ideals" doesn't preclude the notion that there were other points in the 25000 years of jedi history that it also happened. Nor does it mean that they're at their "peak". For example, the TOTJ Jedi concern themselves with warfare to a much greater extent and would have eliminated tribes and conglomerates that had been allowed to exist just before and during the clone wars, such as the nightsisters.
I didn't say that it's a notion reconciled with all EU fluff,
The problem is that your argument has to involve the EU if you want to place the PT era over other timelines that are detailed only in the EU. Calling it "fluff" just because it doesn't fit with the thematic narrative of Star Wars according to the Tempest, doesn't help your case.
EU fluff, pertaining to which lightsaber form was most prevalent among their duelists.
When trying to analyse the martial prowess of the order as a whole, you have to consider the martial abilties of the order. That of course includes the choice of lightsaber form favoured amongst their duelists. You also have to remember that forms don't just emanate a set of striking patterns, but also represent the philosophies of the jedi wielding them. So when the "diplomat form" is the most studied style in the modern era, it contradicts the notion that they were the more concerned with warfare than any other time line of Jedi.
No, I'm saying that the Jedi of the prequels being at their peak martially would help provide additional context as to why he didn't try to challenge them by force outright or through conquest, even with the Kaminoan clones and droid armies at his beck and call.
Nah, he doesn't choose a direct confrontation with the jedi because he needed to frame them as the galactic villains. Which would prevent them from gaining favour with the greater population and reforming, as they have done in the past. I hope you aren't suggesting that Palpatine couldn't have crushed the jedi with his armies, given that a sample selection of 200 jedi, were curb-stomped by a much smaller percentage of the CIS army on Geonosis. Now imagine what would have happened had the clone troopers who entered the fray later on, started firing on the Jedi too.
That's part of it. It also is what enables him to defeat the Emperor: by not fighting
It's not just "part of it", it's the defining theme of the scene. Not fighting the emperor is a plot vehicle that enables Vader to redeem himself, by physically throwing the emperor into a reactor shaft (i.e.:fighting him)
a sentiment echoed by multiple Star Wars authorities including Pablo Hidalgo.
Super Coolstorybro. The personal and non-canonical opinion of Pablo Hidlago, who was nine years old during the release of Return of the Jedi can not accurately relay the authorial intent of the scene.
Actually, Luke saw the Jedi of the prequels as being the order at its height, according to The Jedi Path.
The height of their marital prowess? Got a quote?
Regardless such a quote doesn't refute the idea that fighting the sith with martial training and abilties was the correct course of action to prevent a purge according to Luke, as stated by himself in dark apprentice. Which kind of shits on your original point that the Jedi failed because their fighting prowess was unequaled.
By the way, Luke may not have been the best authority on which time period of Jedi was "teh strongest" considering the vast amounts of information lost in the purge. However, he is the best authority when it comes to his own philosophy in dealing with adversaries : which is to beat them up with his lightsaber.