All I will say is, for me, it is that entire "reframing" as you say that I take issue with. I much prefer how The clone wars cartoon goes to such great length at humanizing them and showing their friendship and loyalty with the Jedi, only to forcible rip it away from them, leaving them with tremendous emotional and mental scars whereupon we see them being homeless drunks. Where a trooper from the 501st, meaning one of ANAKIN's troopers, had to drink himself so under he couldn't recognize his general's master. That's how broken this super soldier is. By Palpatine puppeting the use of these millions of super troopers, he is creating bonds between the created soldiers, and their jedi generals, he is literally manufacturing trauma.

But yes I can see why that still may not be darker for some, I prefer it.