They’re misunderstood. Most people jumped to the conclusion that they were the generators of the force. But in fact they’re simply the vehicles that channel the force. Their differing amounts in different individuals helps establish why only some people are force-sensitive.
On another level, it points out just how dogmatic the Jedi had become. They tried to come up with explanations for everything Force-related instead of tapping into the living Force itself.
The more that I look at the state of the Jedi Order in the prequels, the more Palpetine’s purge almost sounds like a good thing…
…from a certain point of view 