Should I link you to every Star Wars book ever, or can you find them on your own? During most of the early Empire they were the same army. Some clones were in use up to episode IV. The 501st remained as Anakin's particular army the entire time, from the end of EII to the fall of the Empire.
There's the issue, and why the story works - the Jedi never would have found out their corruption. Yoda and Windu failed the order as Grandmasters, and it took near total annihilation in the form of Vader for them to return to their origins (ignoring Disneyverse BS like Jake Skywalker isolating himself).
That would be the ideal world. There is plentiful research to show that eating vegetables is good for you. If you can't figure that little out, why are you a parent?
The term “critical thinking” alone is so worthless
No, it's not. There's a very specific definition - to think critically, i.e. to not accept any idea without first investigating it and analysing its merit. That's the absolute basis of all philosophy and science.
Is there any indication that force sensitive people can be detected at a distance at all?
Loads of indication. Vader detects Luke at various points (and vice-versa). The very fact Sidious contacts Vader about Luke's force abilities without being prompted is a strong indication he could feel it.
There's also another option, which some Jedi did follow: completely cut yourself from the force. This results in being unable to use the force at all, but they still have all of their lightsaber training in a pinch.
But we did see the Stormtroopers at their peak. That was the Clone Wars. During the first few years of the empire, the Stormtrooper army was made almost exclusively of clones. As more regular people were added, their frightening capabilities slowly decreased until, by RotJ, the Empire's army is made entirely of new recruits who promptly get their asses handed to them.
You're actually illiterate, holy fuck. Do humanity a favour and go back to grade-1.