I'm going to pretend this hasn't been clarified already -assuming it has already been clarified.
Does Palpatine use the force in conjunction with the mechanical parts to keep anakin alive after he becomes vader or is it only the mechanical parts that are keeping him alive? If palpatine is keeping Anakin alive with the force, is this some how related to or connected to the ability to become a "blue shadowy guy"?
Or am I missing the point in that the Sith really don't know how to do that shit?