Master Mundi seems to be the third most powerful member of the Council. Aside from Mace and Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi is the only one with a speaking role amongst the Jedi Council. He's also the only Jedi we see fight off Order 66, aside from Yoda. Ki-Adi senses the betrayal and defends himself, killing several clone before being overwhelmed. If Mace had brought Ki-Adi-Mundi instead of one of the lame members of the posse, could he have prevailed against Palpatine? Side note: What if Yoda had joined Mace before they moved to arrest Palpatine? Would that have made a difference?
Just because he had a speaking role does not mean that he was the third most powerful. Remember, he is still only a Jedi Knight in TPM, albeit a wise one. We don't know how he would have fared against Sidious, but is it highly likely that he would have been cut down as quickly as Agen and Saesee. In the novel (which Lucas approved line by line) the posse were the four most powerful Jedi in the Order at the time, apart from Yoda. Lucas also said that only Mace and Yoda were powerful enough to face off against Sidious, so any other Jedi, including Ki-Adi, would have been killed quickly.
I don't think he sensed the Clone Troopers betrayal. He ordered his Clone Troopers to follow him and he turned around probably to see why the order wasn't being followed.
While I don't dispute that that is C-canon, I think this is one of those places where Lucas has a different view: "How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?"
Outside of Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda, it doesn't matter who Mace brought, they would have been cut down just as fast because that's what Lucas wanted. I think it's clear that Lucas wanted two things: 1) To show that Palpatine was very powerful. 2) To have a one on one showdown between Mace and Palpatine. That's why the three Masters got cut down so fast.
I do say Ki-Adi Mundi was one of the more valued members of the Council. In context with the story, he'd still be slain, but I'd imagine he'd put up a MUCH better fight than the others. Honestly, he seemed to be one of Lucas' favorites who just didn't get developed enough in the time given; though I think his fight against Grievous in the Clone Wars is a good representation of his strength.
I checked, and it does refer to him as a Jedi Knight, but doesn't really make the distinction from the others. But I think that's not really relevant to the films themselves; when conceiving the Council, did they really stop and think "they'll all be Jedi Masters, except for that one?"
Didn't ROTS erase this with "How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?", or at least imply it?. I mean, aside from Coruscant, Lucas doesn't care about much of anything he doesn't consider "movie" canon.
He would have been cut down as easily as the other ones. Only mace and yoda could tangle with sidious.
I see one definitely go down. That's not half. Natalie: Just because you have no idea what we're talking about doesn't make it "obscure".
Hey, this is prequel trilogy forum, why should I care post-ROTJ EU dude who's not even a main character