I've always found it amusing how the "light" side of the force (read: good side) has what amounts to mind rape as an ability, whereas the dark side will either simply kill or disable you. Light seems to be, if nothing else, inefficient in battle terms, outside the useful defensive powers. Personally, I hope Luke ends up founding a grey Jedi academy, and throws out that bullshit "light vs dark" distinction when it comes to force powers.
(Makes me think of how Mr. Welch gets a dark side point for using force lightning, even if he only uses it for spot welding.)
When you say "you hope", I'm assuming you're referring to the upcoming Episode 7.
Because Luke does, in fact, found a grayer Jedi Order as depicted in the Expanded Universe, and according to Jedi Academy, you can actually learn Force Lightning/Choke/Drain and Dark Rage there (though he does warn you against
specializing in Dark Side powers because they can consume you)
I think it's worth noting that Knights of the Old Republic handles the alignment/force system a lot better than Jedi Academy. Any Force user can learn any skill, but Light Side powers take less effort when you're steeped in the light side, and Dark Side powers take less effort when you're succumbing to the dark side. Also, there are more neutral powers, and Mind Trick is one of the Neutral Powers - and you're called on wanton use of it.
So, basically, if we take KOTOR as canon, Mind Trick is a tool used by both Jedi AND Sith, just like Force Push and Pull and stuff.
(Then again Jedi Academy was, I believe, the first game that let you create your own Jedi. Ergo, its lack of complexity is forgivable.)
In my book, it's perfectly understandable why the Galaxy turned against the Jedi. -snip-
The funny thing is, according to the Star Wars canon, the Jedi are actually entirely in the right - the Dark Side is supposed to be an absolutely corrupting influence, and force sensitives who rely on emotion to fight will succumb to it.
I personally think it's bullshit. So many Jedi fall to the Sith because they feel like they're beyond redemption, and may as well go all the way at that point. Hell, what was the final emotion Anakin felt moments before he dedicated himself to the Dark Side? Regret. If he hadn't had to hide his love for Padme, he might have been redeemed. The Jedi created Darth Vader.
Of course, it's worth noting that according to the EU, Luke's grayer Jedi Academy also ended up producing quite a few more Sith than the Jedi of the Republic, so perhaps there's some problems with Gray philosophy.