Compared to the 3 Choices in ME3 the choice on Iokath is illogical. In ME3 I fondly remember the amazement on how bold the choice was. It was the first game ever where I stared more than 15mins at that screen, not willing to make any choice. Because I, as a player, was always going to lose - me, the protagonist. To this day I praise the decision that that choice was implemented. It took guts to do the other thing (stating nothing about the apparant lack of time remaining leading up to that before the game's release - just those 3 choices). On Iokath, siding with Republic or Empire at that point doesn't make sense. At all. At that moment you are their peer and you control your own military and territories (which Valkorian built up). Now the Alliance could crumble, but there generally would remain a sizeable portion of significant power. Regardless which side you choose, you will always lose. Both Empire and Repuiblic should respond in exactly the same way: At the first hint, you'll drop your commitments without honoring your mutual agreements. No sane leader would give up their "kingdom" willingly. Let alone leave the impression they can't be trusted (and therefore become a mutual enemy to the Republic and the Empire?). And that's how this feels. Story wise I can imagine a 3rd faction complicates matters in the epic Good vs. Evil fights, but the choice here doesn't make sense. Especially since, when you start, you're aiding in the rebuilding, then pull all aid from both sides (since they both no longer want to play nice). And then you have to pick one of them? This choice basically gave me the feeling "No thanks, gonna stop right here with SWTOR". Which was... a surprising experience. The sense I get is that this was rushed. Or, as one post stated people gave in to a part of the playerbase. Redardless, it leaves a sour taste and a somewhat bitter experience. As for my choices, I think I'll mix and match and see what happens.